Inter-subject variability in the metabolism of aluminium following intravenous injection as citrate

Abstract

1 Six healthy male volunteers received intravenous injec tions of ²⁶Al as citrate. Accelerator mass spectrometry and γ-ray spectrometry were used to determine levels of the tracer in blood and excreta at times up to 5-6 d. 2 There was a rapid clearance from blood (mean 2% of injection remaining after 1 d) and major loss in urine (59% up to 1 d), but 27 ± 7 (s.d.)% was retained in the body at 5 d. Faecal excretion was negligible (1% up to 5 d). 3 The mean results accord with the early metabolic pat tern in the single subject of a previous, more extensive study, who had retained 4% of the injection after 3 y. Together, the two studies point to the likelihood of large inter-subject differences in the long-term accumulation of dietary aluminium by populations receiving a given level of daily intake.