Herbal Supplement Use and Blood Lead Levels of United States Adults
Authors
Catherine MPH
Division of General Medicine and Primary Care, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Ave, Atrium Suite, Boston, MA 02215 USA
Kenneth MA
Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
Paula MPH
Department of Family Medicine, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA USA
Roger ScD
Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
Russell MD
Division of General Medicine and Primary Care, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Ave, Atrium Suite, Boston, MA 02215 USA
Murray DrPH
Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND
Some herbal supplements may contain lead.
OBJECTIVE
To examine whether use of specific herbal dietary supplements during the last 30 days is associated with blood lead levels in US men and women.
DESIGN
Cross-sectional analysis.
STUDY POPULATION
NHANES participants from 1999–2004, a representative sample of the civilian non-institutionalized US population.
MEASUREMENTS
Lead was measured in blood. Associations between lead and self-reported supplement use were estimated using multivariable regression weighted to account for NHANES sampling. Herbal supplements investigated were those previously reported to contain high heavy metal content: Ayurvedic or traditional Chinese medicine herbs, echinacea, ginkgo, ginseng, St. John’s wort, and “other” herbs (specifically, kava, valerian, black cohosh, bee pollen, and nettle).
MAIN RESULTS
Among 6,712 women ≥20 years, those using herbal supplements had lead levels that were 10% higher than non-users (95% CI 3%–17%, p = 0.005). Women using Ayurvedic or traditional Chinese medicine herbs, St. John’s wort, and “other” herbs had lead levels 24% (95% CI 5%–45%, p = 0.01), 23% (95% CI 4%–46%), p = 0.02), and 21% (95% CI 2%–44%, p = 0.03) higher, respectively, than non-users. No significant associations were observed between herb use and lead levels among men (n = 6,095). Among reproductive-aged women (16–45 years), herbal supplement users had lead levels 20% higher than non-users (95% CI 5%–34%, p = 0.008). In contrast, garlic and other dietary supplements were not associated with higher lead levels.
CONCLUSION
Use of specific herbal supplements is associated with higher blood lead levels among women. Our data suggest testing guidelines for herbal supplements and regulations limiting lead in supplements are needed.
KEY WORDS: herbs, Phytotherapy, Lead/analysis, Dietary supplements, medicine, Ayurvedic
Author Biographies
Catherine MPH
, Division of General Medicine and Primary Care, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Ave, Atrium Suite, Boston, MA 02215 USA
Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
Kenneth MA
, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
Division of General Medicine and Primary Care, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Brookline, MA USA
Roger ScD
, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
Department of Biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA USA
Russell MD
, Division of General Medicine and Primary Care, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Ave, Atrium Suite, Boston, MA 02215 USA
Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
Murray DrPH
, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA USA
Click on "Archives" to access the full archive of scientific preprints. You may use the categories and the search functionality to find select preprints you're interested in.
