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Aluminium absorption in infancy
1Department of Paediatrics, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, South Australia.
Insights
Infants absorb aluminum from common antacid medications, leading to increased plasma and urinary aluminum levels. This absorption raises significant concerns about potential aluminum toxicity in vulnerable infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal medicine
- Pediatric toxicology
- Clinical chemistry
Background:
- Aluminum-containing medications and contaminated infant formulas are frequently used.
- Infants may be particularly susceptible to the adverse effects of aluminum due to immature organ systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate aluminum absorption in infants following the ingestion of aluminum-containing antacids.
- To assess the impact of antacid therapy on plasma and urinary aluminum levels in neonates.
Main Methods:
- Seven infants with a mean gestational age of 36 weeks received antacid therapy (400-800 mumol aluminum) with feeds for two days.
- Plasma and urinary aluminum levels were measured before and after the antacid treatment period.
- Urinary aluminum was normalized to creatinine levels for analysis.
Main Results:
- Plasma aluminum levels significantly increased from 0.64 +/- 0.33 mumol/L to 3.48 +/- 2.86 mumol/L (P = 0.029) after antacid therapy.
- A notable increase in the urinary aluminum to creatinine ratio was observed.
- These findings indicate significant aluminum absorption in the infant participants.
Conclusions:
- Infants demonstrate absorption of aluminum when administered antacids.
- The observed increase in plasma aluminum levels reached potentially toxic concentrations.
- These results highlight the risk of aluminum toxicity in infants using aluminum-based antacids.
Abstract:
The use of aluminium-containing medications and aluminium contamination of infant formulae is common. We aimed to determine whether aluminium absorption occurs after antacid ingestion. Plasma and urinary levels of aluminium were measured before and after antacid therapy in seven infants whose mean gestational age was 36 +/- 2 weeks and postnatal age 11 +/- 5 days. Antacid therapy (400-800 mumol aluminium) was given with feeds for 2 days. Plasma aluminium levels increased and reached toxic levels (0.64 +/- 0.33 mumol/L vs 3.48 +/- 2.86 mumol/L, P = 0.029). Urinary aluminium: creatinine ratio also increased. These results demonstrate that infants absorb aluminium from antacids and raise the concern of aluminium toxicity.