ArticlePloS one2012
Toxic element contamination of natural health products and pharmaceutical preparations.
Article in PloS one, 2012. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 26 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
26 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Potential Hepatotoxins Found in Herbal Medicinal Products: A Systematic Review.International journal of molecular sciences · 2020Pooled it
- Community acquired respiratory virus infections in cancer patients-Guideline on diagnosis and management by the Infectious Diseases Working Party of the German Society for haematology and Medical Oncology.European journal of cancer (Oxford, England : 1990) · 2016Guideline
- Over-the-Counter Supplement Overuse: A Rare Potential Cause of Arsenic Poisoning and Bradycardia.Cureus · 2025Article
- Bioaccessibility, exposure and risk assessment of potentially toxic elements and essential micronutrients in ayurvedic, traditional Chinese and Ghanaian medicines.Biometals : an international journal on the role of metal ions in biology, biochemistry, and medicine · 2023Article
- Mercury Exposure from the Consumption of Dietary Supplements Containing Vegetable, Cod Liver, and Shark Liver Oils.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023Article
- Update on Toxic Neuropathies.Current treatment options in neurology · 2022Article
- Review
- A Health Risk Assessment of Lead and Other Metals in Pharmaceutical Herbal Products and Dietary Supplements ContainingInternational journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Article
- Regulatory Status of Pesticide Residues in Cannabis: Implications to Medical Use in Neurological Diseases.Current research in toxicology · 2021Article
- Heavy Metal contamination of Dietary Supplements products available in the UAE markets and the associated risk.Scientific reports · 2020Article
- Mercury in natural health products as a cause of membranous nephropathy.Proceedings (Baylor University. Medical Center) · 2020Article
- Heavy metal content of herbal health supplement products in Dubai - UAE: a cross-sectional study.BMC complementary and alternative medicine · 2019Article
- Metals and metalloids in traditional medicines (Ayurvedic medicines, nutraceuticals and traditional Chinese medicines).Environmental science and pollution research international · 2019Article
- Article
- The Contribution of Complementary and Alternative Medicine to Reduce Antibiotic Use: A Narrative Review of Health Concepts, Prevention, and Treatment Strategies.Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM · 2019Review
- Heavy metal contamination of prenatal vitamins.Toxicology reports · 2018Article
- Whole Medical Systems versus the System of Conventional Biomedicine: A Critical, Narrative Review of Similarities, Differences, and Factors That Promote the Integration Process.Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM · 2017Review
- Preconception Care: A New Standard of Care within Maternal Health Services.BioMed research international · 2016Review
- Alternative drugs go global: possible lead and/ or mercury intoxication from imported natural health products and a need for scientifically evaluated poisoning monitoring from environmental exposures.Journal of occupational medicine and toxicology (London, England) · 2016Article
- Thyroid storm caused by a chinese herb contaminated with thyroid hormones.The American journal of case reports · 2015Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundConcern has recently emerged regarding the safety of natural health products (NHPs)-therapies that are increasingly recommended by various health providers, including conventional physicians. Recognizing that most individuals in the Western world now consume vitamins and many take herbal agents, this study endeavored to determine levels of toxic element contamination within a range of NHPs.
methodsToxic element testing was performed on 121 NHPs (including Ayurvedic, traditional Chinese, and various marine-source products) as well as 49 routinely prescribed pharmaceutical preparations. Testing was also performed on several batches of one prenatal supplement, with multiple samples tested within each batch. Results were compared to existing toxicant regulatory limits.
resultsToxic element contamination was found in many supplements and pharmaceuticals; levels exceeding established limits were only found in a small percentage of the NHPs tested and none of the drugs tested. Some NHPs demonstrated contamination levels above preferred daily endpoints for mercury, cadmium, lead, arsenic or aluminum. NHPs manufactured in China generally had higher levels of mercury and aluminum.
conclusionsExposure to toxic elements is occurring regularly as a result of some contaminated NHPs. Best practices for quality control-developed and implemented by the NHP industry with government oversight-is recommended to guard the safety of unsuspecting consumers.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.