Urinary Excretion of Aluminium and Silicon in Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Single-arm prospective before-and-after study without a separate control group
PubMed 29128442 · doi:10.1016/j.ebiom.2017.10.028
What was done
Researchers measured urinary excretion of aluminium and silicon over 24 weeks in 15 individuals diagnosed with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS). The study consisted of a 12-week baseline control period followed by a 12-week intervention period during which participants consumed up to 1.5 L of silicon-rich mineral water daily. Urinary concentrations were measured using transversely-heated graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry.
What was found
During the 12-week baseline, participants excreted 135.2 nmol/mmol creatinine of aluminium (range 70.3–222.2, n=180 samples), with females excreting significantly more than males. Regular consumption of silicon-rich mineral water increased urinary aluminium excretion significantly to 349.0 nmol/mmol creatinine (range 231.7–524.7, n=180; three-way ANOVA, F(1,13) = 59.17, p = 0.000003). Fourteen of the 15 participants showed statistically significant increases in aluminium excretion (μmol/24h, p < 0.05).
Why it matters
This study provides proof-of-concept that drinking silicon-rich mineral water enhances the non-invasive systemic removal of aluminium in individuals with SPMS. It highlights a potential non-pharmacological strategy for metal clearance.
Limits
The study is constrained by a very small sample size (n = 15) and an uncontrolled before-and-after design with no randomized comparator group. The abstract reports no clinical, cognitive, or disease progression endpoints to establish whether enhanced aluminium excretion improves SPMS symptoms or prognosis.
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