Nutrient-Toxic Metal Antagonisms
Introduction
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When I first started to learn about Mineral Balancing, I was drawn, like many, to the infamous Mineral Wheels that Dr William Albrecht first conceived. I then found that there were many attempts at putting together these wheels about nutrition.
The most elaborate of these wheels that I could find was that of Dr David Watts, which he had shared on the Trace Elements website, and published in the Journal of Orthomolecular Nutrition. In these documents, Watts discusses not only the synergistic effects of vitamins/minerals/hormones but also antagonistic effects.
I started learning more and more about nutrient interactions and discovered some missing information on the typically shared Mineral Wheels, and decided they needed some updates.
On the homepage of this website, you will find the most up-to-date single Mineral Wheel with multiple interactions. However, the more I began seeking out the information required to do these wheels, I quickly realised that there was a lack of scientific citations to justify many of these interactions. I have been working on compiling the research that is published along with the wheels so that there can be confidence in the accuracy of these wheels.
Since publishing my article on the Biological Replacement of Elements Theory (BRET), I have received overwhelming support for this concept. With many readers sending me emails regarding more information than what I originally wrote about. In case you have not read the BRET article, the basic idea is that the body accumulates toxic less preferred elements when the preferred nutrient elements are not available.
What this means is that the best way to detoxify the tissues from these less preferred elements is with nourishment, rather than chelation, and ensuring that the body no longer uses toxic elements to perform biological functions at a lowered rate of efficiency.
An idea then came to me — to begin working on nutrient-toxic interactions and put these on a mineral wheel, which I call the BRET Mineral Wheel. It seemed to me that this was the best way to bring forth this concept on a graphic rather than a table.
Now having a graphic developed is one thing, and fortunately for me, my lovely wife has just the skill-set to create these. There was one more challenge that I needed to overcome.
The fact that many Mineral Wheels of the past lacked scientific citations. So off I went, looking for research articles that support this concept of nutrients being important not just for displacement, but also as a valid means for addressing toxic heavy metal burdens since often the side-effect of a toxic metal is the depletion of nutrients.
The result of where I am with this project can be found in the BRET Mineral Wheel Diagram below. I hope to continue updating this wheel and adding to the lists of citations for the interactions to further develop the concept of the Biological Replacement of Elements Theory.
Using this chart is quite simple. All the interactions shown are mutually antagonistic. For example, selenium antagonises mercury, and mercury antagonises selenium. It goes both ways. So if you are trying to lower a mercury load, it would be wise to consider the solid lines that lead to the three elements known to antagonise it, vitamin E, sulphur, and selenium.
The dotted lines on the BRET Mineral Wheel indicate a suspected antagonism, but I have yet to confirm it with citations.
Note: There are Pros and Con’s to this chart. I am sure that some people will think they only need the antagonists. I do not recommend this since all vitamins and minerals work as a team. Many metabolic functions, such as encouraging healthy elimination, blocking the metabolism and absorption of toxins requires the suite of nutrients. I highly recommend beginning a Mineral Balancing Program to lower your tissue burden to support and promote the healthy function of your cells and organs.
Lead
Calcium (Ca) and Phosphorus (P)
Ziegler, E. E., Edwards, B. B., Jensen, R. L., Mahaffey, K. R., and Fomon, S. J. 1978. Absorption and retention of lead by infants. Pediatr. Res. 12: 29.
Heard, M. J. and Chamberlain, A. C. 1982. Effect of minerals and food on uptake of lead from the gastrointestinal tract in humans. Human Toxicol 1: 411
Blake, K. C. H. and Mann, M. 1983. Effect of calcium and phosphorus on the gastrointestinal absorption of 203Pb in man. Environ. Res. 30: 188.
Heard, M. J., Chamberlain, A. C., and Sherlock, J. C. 1983. Uptake of lead by humans and effect of minerals and food. Sci. Total Environ. 30: 245.
Goyer RA. Nutrition and metal toxicity. Am J Clin Nutr 61(Suppl):646S-650S (1995).
Iron (Fe)
Yip, R., Norris, T. N., and Anderson, A. S. 1981. Iron status of children with elevated blood lead concentrations. J. Pediatr. 98: 922.
Mahaffey, K. R. and Annest, J. L. 1986. Association of erythrocyte protoporphyrin with blood lead level and iron status in the second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1976-1980. Environ. Res. 41: 327.
Watson, W. S., Hume, R., and Moore, M. R. 1980. Oral absorption of lead and iron. Lancet 2: 236.
Watson, W. S., Moore, M. R., and Hume, R. 1980. Oral absorption of lead and iron. Lancet 2: 699.
Flanagan, P. R., Chamberlain, M. J., and Valberg, L. S. 1982. The relationship between iron and lead absorption in humans. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 36: 823.
Watson, W. S., Morrison, J., Bethel, M. I. F., Baldwin, N. M., Lyon, D. T. B., Dobson, H., Moore, M. R., and Hume, R. 1986. Food iron and lead ab sorption in humans. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 44: 248.
Goyer RA. Nutrition and metal toxicity. Am J Clin Nutr 61(Suppl):646S-650S (1995).
Vitamin D
Rosen, J. F., Chesney, R. W., Hamstra, A., DeLuca, H. P., and Mahaffey, K. R. 1980. Reduction in 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D in children with increased lead absorption. N. Engl. J. Med. 302: 1128.
Mahaffey, K. R., Rosen, J. P., Chesney, R. W., Peeler, J. T., Smith, C. M., and DeLuca, H. P. 1982. Association between age, blood lead concentration, and serum 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol levels in children. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 35: 1327.
Zinc (Zn)
Lauwerys, R., Roels, H., Buchet, J. -P., Bernard, A. A„ Verhoeven, L., and Konings, J. 1983. The influence of orally-administered vitamin C or zinc on the absorption of and the biological response to lead. J. Occup. Med. 25: 668.
Petering HG. Some observations on the interaction of zinc, copper, and iron metabolism in lead and cadmium toxicity. Environ Health Perspect 25:141-145 (1978).
Goyer RA. Nutrition and metal toxicity. Am J Clin Nutr 61(Suppl):646S-650S (1995).
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
Lauwerys, R., Roels, H., Buchet, J. -P., Bernard, A. A„ Verhoeven, L., and Konings, J. 1983. The influence of orally-administered vitamin C or zinc on the absorption of and the biological response to lead. J. Occup. Med. 25: 668.
Mercury
Selenium (Se)
Goyer RA. Nutrition and metal toxicity. Am J Clin Nutr 61(Suppl):646S-650S (1995).
Sulphur (S)
Gochfeld, M., & Burger, J. (2021). Mercury interactions with selenium and sulfur and the relevance of the Se:Hg molar ratio to fish consumption advice. Environmental science and pollution research international, 28(15), 18407–18420.
Zalups R. K. (2000). Molecular interactions with mercury in the kidney. Pharmacological reviews, 52(1), 113–143.
Copper (Cu)
Funk AE, Day FA, Brady FO. Displacement of zinc and copper-induced metallothionein by cadmium and by mercury: in vivo and ex vivo studies. Comp Biochem Physiol C Pharmacol Toxicol 86:1-6 (1987).
Cadmium-Nutrient interactions in Animals
Zinc (Zn)
Fox, M. R. S., Tao, S. -H., Stone, C. L., and Fry, B. E., Jr. 1984. Effects of zinc, iron and copper deficiencies on cadmium in tissues of Japanese quail. Environ. Health Perspect. 54: 57.
Waalkes, M. P. 1986. Effect of dietary zinc deficiency on the accumulation of cadmium and metallothionein in selected tissues of the rat. J. Toxicol Environ. Health 18: 301.
Hoadley, J. E. and Cousins, R. J. 1985. Effects of dietary zinc depletion and food restriction on intestinal transport of cadmium in the rat. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol Med. 180; 296.
Andersen 0, Nielsen JB, Sorensen JA, Scherrebeck L. Experimental localization of intestinal uptake sites for metals (Cd, Hg, Zn, Se) in vivo in mice. Environ Health Perspect 102(Suppl 3):199-206 (1994).
Snaith SM, Levvy GA. Purification and properties of a-D-mannosidase from rat epididymis. Biochem J 114:25-33 (1969).
Lai JB. The Effects of Low and High Levels of Dietary Zinc on Pathology in Rats Exposed to Cadmium. Ph.D. Thesis. University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1976.
Tanaka M, Yanagi M, Shirota K, Une Y, Nomura Y, Masaoka T, Akahori F. Effect of cadmium in the zinc deficient rat. Vet Hum Toxicol 37:203-208 (1995).
Supplee WC. Production of zinc deficiency in turkey poults by dietary cadmium. Poult Sci 40:827 (1961).
Iron (Fe)
Fox, M. R. S., Tao, S. -H., Stone, C. L., and Fry, B. E., Jr. 1984. Effects of zinc, iron and copper deficiencies on cadmium in tissues of Japanese quail. Environ. Health Perspect. 54: 57.
Fox, M. R. S., Jacobs, R. M., Jones, A. O. L., Fry, B. E. Jr., and Stone, C. L. 1980. Effects of vitamin C and iron on cadmium metabolism. N. Y. Acad. Sci 355: 249.
Leon, L. and Johnson, D. R. 1985. Role of iron in jejunal uptake of cadmium in the newborn rat. J. Toxicol. Environ. Health, 15: 687.
Kostial, K., Rabar, I., Blanusa, M., and Simonovic, I. 1980. The effect of iron additive to milk on cadmium, mercury and manganese absorption in rats. Environ. Res. 22: 40.
Johnson, D. R., Foulkes, E. C., and Leon, L. 1981. Intestinal transport of cadmium in newborn rats. Fed. Proc. 40: 1073.
Huebers, H. A., Huebers, E., Csiba, E., Rummel, W., and Finch, C. A. 1987. The cadmium effect on iron absorption. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 45: 1007.
Webster, W. S. 1979. Iron deficiency and its role in cadmium-induced fetal growth retardation. J. Nutr. 109: 1640.
Siewicki, T. C., Sydlowski, J. S., Van Dolah, F. M., and Balthrop, J. E., Jr. 1986. Influence of dietary zinc and cadmium on iron bioavailability in mice and rats: Oyster versus salt sources. J. Nutr. 116: 281.
Stonard MD, Webb M. Influence of dietary cadmium on the distribution of the essential metals copper, zinc and iron in tissues of the rat. Chem Biol Interact 15:349-363 (1976).
Fox MRS, Fry BE Jr. Cadmium toxicity decreased by dietary ascorbic acid supplements. Science 169:989 (1970).
Copper (Cu)
Fox, M. R. S., Tao, S. -H., Stone, C. L., and Fry, B. E., Jr. 1984. Effects of zinc, iron and copper deficiencies on cadmium in tissues of Japanese quail. Environ. Health Perspect. 54: 57.
Mills CF, Dalgarno AC. Copper and zinc status of ewes and lambs receiving increased dietary concentrations of cadmium. Nature 239:171-173 (1972).
Evans GW, Majors PF, Cornatzer WE. Mechanism for cadmium and zinc antagonism of copper metabolism. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 40:1142 (1970).
Rothe S, Gropp J, Weiser H, Rambeck WA. The effect of vitamin C and zinc on the copper-induced increase of cadmium residues in swine [in German]. Z Ernahrungswiss 33:61-67 (1994).
Calcium (Ca)
Van Barneveld, A. A. and Van den Hamer, J. A. 1985. Influence of Ca and Mg on the uptake and deposition of Pb and Cd in mice. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 79: 1.
Revis, N. W., Major, T. C., and Horton, C. Y. 1980. The effects of calcium, magnesium, lead or cadmium on lipoprotein metabolism and atherosclerosis in the pigeon. J. Environ. Pathol. Toxicol. 4-2, 3: 293.
Chertok, R. J., Sasser, L. B., Callahan, M. F., and Jarboe, G. E. 1981. Influence of cadmium on the intestinal uptake and absorption of calcium in the rat. J. Nutr. Ill: 631.
Hoadley, J. E. and Johnson, D. R. 1987. Effects of calcium on cadmium uptake and binding in the rat intestine. Fundam. Appl. Toxicol 9: 1.
Ando M, Shimizu M, Sayato Y, Tanimura A, Tobe M. The inhibition of vitamin D-stimulated intestinal calcium transport in rats after continuous oral administration of cadmium. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 61:297-301 (1981).
Wang C, Bhattacharyya MH. Effect of cadmium on bone calcium and 45Ca in nonpregnant mice on a calcium-deficient diet: evidence of direct effect of cadmium on bone. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 120:228-239 (1993).
Rimbach G, Pallauf J, Brandt K, Most E. Effect of phytic acid and microbial phytase on Cd accumulation, Zn status, and apparent absorption of Ca, P, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu, and Mn in growing rats. Ann Nutr Metabolism 39:361-370 (1995).
Selenium (Se)
Olsson, U. 1985. Selenium deficiency and detoxication functions in the rat: Effect of chronic dietary cadmium. Drug Nutr. Interact. 3: 129.
Rahim, A. G. A, Arthur, J. R., and Mills, C. F. 1986. Effects of dietary cop per, cadmium, iron, molybdenum and manganese on selenium utilization by the rat. J. Nutr. 116: 403.
Flegal, K. M., Cary, E. E., Pond, W. G., and Krook, L. P. 1980. Dietary selenium and cadmium interrelationships in growing swine. J. Nutr. 110: 1255.
Perry, H. M., Erlanger, M. W., and Perry, E. F. 1983. Effect of a second metal on cadmium-induced hypertension. Arch. Environ. Health 38: 80.
Manganese (Mn)
Jacobs, R. M., Lee. A. O. L., Fox, M. R, S., and Lener, J. 1983. Effects of dietary zinc, manganese, and copper on tissue accumulation of cadmium by Japanese quail. Proc. Sac. Exp. Biol. Med. 172: 34.
Sarhan, M. J., Roels, H., Lauwerys, R., Reyners, H., and Gianfelici de Reyners, E. 1986. Influence of manganese on the gastrointestinal ab sorption of cadmium in rats. J. Appl. Toxicol. 6: 313.
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
Fox, M. R. S., Jacobs, R. M., Jones, A. O. L., Fry, B. E. Jr., and Stone, C. L. 1980. Effects of vitamin C and iron on cadmium metabolism. N. Y. Acad. Sci 355: 249.
Cadmium-Nutrient Interactions in Humans
Calcium (Ca)
Fox MRS. Nutritional influences on metal toxicity: cadmium as a model toxic element. Environ Health Perspect 29:95-104 (1979).
Friberg L, Piscator M, Nordberg GF, Kjellstrom T. Cadmium in the environment. 2nd ed. Cleveland, OH:CRC Press, 1974.
Zinc (Zn)
Petering HG. Some observations on the interaction of zinc, copper, and iron metabolism in lead and cadmium toxicity. Environ Health Perspect 25:141-145 (1978).
Bremner I. Cadmium toxicity: nutritional influences and the role of metallothionein. World Rev Nutr Diet 32:165-197 (1978).
Fox MRS. Nutritional influences on metal toxicity: cadmium as a model toxic element. Environ Health Perspect 29:95-104 (1979).
Coleman JE, Vallee BL. Metallocarboxypeptidases: stability constants and enzymatic characteristics. J Biol Chem 236:2244-2249 (1961).
Cotzias GC, Papavasiliou PS. Specificity of zinc pathway through the body: homeostatic considerations. Am J Physiol 206:787-792 (1964).
Underwood EJ. Trace Elements in Human and Animal Nutrition. 4th ed. New York:Academic Press, 1977.
Parizek J. The destructive effect of cadmium ion on testicular tissue and its prevention by zinc. J Endocrinol 15:56-63 (1957).
Sandstead HH. Effects and dose-response relationships of toxic metals (Nordberg GF, ed). New York:Elsevier, 1976.
Stonard MD, Webb M. Influence of dietary cadmium on the distribution of the essential metals copper, zinc and iron in tissues of the rat. Chem Biol Interact 15:349-363 (1976).
Iron (Fe)
Flanagan, P. R., McLellan, J. S., Haist, J., Cherian, G., Chamberlain, M. J., and Valberg, L. S. 1978. Increased dietary cadmium absorption in mice and human subjects with iron deficiency. Gastroenterology 74: 841.
Shaikh, Z. A. and Smith, J. C. 1980. Metabolism of orally ingested cadmium in humans. In Mechanisms of Toxicity and Hazard Evaluation, Holmstedt, B., Lauwerys, R., Mercier, M., and Roberfroid, M. (Ed.), p. 569. Elsevier/North-Holland Biomedical Press, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Bunker, V. W., Lawson, M. S., Delves, H. T., and Clayton, B. W. 1984. The intake and excretion of lead and cadmium by the elderly. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 39: 803.
Fox MRS. Nutritional influences on metal toxicity: cadmium as a model toxic element. Environ Health Perspect 29:95-104 (1979).
Vahter M, Berglund M, Nermell B, Akesson A. Bioavailability of cadmium from shellfish and mixed diet in women. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 136:332-341 (1996).
Petering HG, Murthy L, Cerklewski FL. Role of nutrition in heavy metal toxicity. In: Biochemical Effects on Environmental Pollutants (Lee SD, ed). Ann Arbor, MI:Science Publishers, 1977.
Copper (Cu)
Nogawa, K., Yamada, Y., Honda, R., Tsuritani, L, Kobayashi, E., and Ishizaki, M. 1984. Copper and zinc levels in serum and urine of cadmium-exposed people with special reference to renal tubular dam age. Environ. Res. 33: 29.
Fox MRS. Nutritional influences on metal toxicity: cadmium as a model toxic element. Environ Health Perspect 29:95-104 (1979).
Funk AE, Day FA, Brady FO. Displacement of zinc and copper-induced metallothionein by cadmium and by mercury: in vivo and ex vivo studies. Comp Biochem Physiol C Pharmacol Toxicol 86:1-6 (1987).
Vitamin D
Nogawa, K., Tsuritani, 1., Kido, T., Honda, R., Yamada, Y., and Ishizaki, M. 1987. Mechanism for bone disease found in inhabitants environ mentally exposed to cadmium: Decreased serum la-25-dihydroxyvitamin D \eve\.Arch. Environ. Occup. Health 59: 21.
Aluminium-Nutrient Interactions in Humans
Calcium (Ca) and Phosphorus (P)
Spencer, H., Kramer, L., Norris, C., and Osis, D. 1982. Effect of small doses of aluminum-containing antacids on calcium and phosphorus metabolism. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 36: 32.
Insogna, K. L., Bordley, D. R., Caro. J. F.. and Lockwood, D. H. 1980. Osteomalacia and weakness from excessive antacid ingestion. J. Am. Med. Assoc. 244: 2544.
Vitamin D
Klein, 0. L., Horst, R. L., Norman, A. W., Ament, M. E., Slatopolsky, E., and Coburn, J. W, 1981. Reduced serum levels of l-alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D during long-term total parenteral nutrition. Ann. Int. Med. 94: 638.
Shike, M., Sturtridge, W. C., Tam, C. S., Elarrison, J. E., Jones, G., Murray, T. M., Husdan, H., Whitwell, J., Wilson, D. R., and Jeejeebhoy, K. N. 1981. A possible role of vitamin D in the genesis of parenteral nutrition-induced metabolic bone disease. Ann. Int. Med. 95: 560.
Klein, G. L„ Horst, R, L., Alfrey, A. C., and Slatopolsky, E, 1985. Serum levels of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D in children receiving parenteral nutrition with reduced aluminum content. J. Pediatr. Gastroenterol. Nutr. 4: 93.
Fluoride (F)
Spencer, H., Kramer, L., Osis, D., and Wiatrowski, E. 1985. Effects of aluminum hydroxide on fluoride and calcium metabolism. J. Environ. Pathol. Toxicol. Oncol. 6: 33
Zinc (Zn)
Abu-Hamdan, D. K., Mahajam, S. K., Migdal, S. D., Prasad, A. S., and McDonald, F. D. 1986. Zinc tolerance tests in uremia. Effect of ferrous sulfate and aluminum hydroxide. Int. Med. 104: 50.