Gluten-free diet may increase arsenic, mercury levels
A study published in Epidemiology suggests that a gluten-free diet may increase blood levels of arsenic and mercury.
A study published in Epidemiology suggests that a gluten-free diet may increase blood levels of arsenic and mercury. Arsenic and mercury are widely distributed throughout the environment, and everyone has some amount in their blood. Gluten-free products often contain rice flour as a substitute for wheat. Rice is known to bioaccumulate certain toxic metals, including arsenic and mercury from fertilizers, soil, or water, but little is known about the health effects of diets high in rice content.
The researchers examined data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey searching for a link between gluten-free diet and biomarkers of toxic metals in blood and urine. They found 73 participants who reported eating a gluten-free diet among the 7,471 who completed the survey, between 2009 and 2014. Participants ranged in age from 6 to 80 years old.
The researchers found that the people who reported eating gluten-free had higher concentrations of arsenic in their urine, and mercury in their blood, than those who did not. The arsenic levels were almost twice as high for people eating a gluten-free diet, and mercury levels were 70% higher.
“These results indicate that there could be unintended consequences of eating a gluten-free diet,” said study author Maria Argos, assistant professor of epidemiology in the University of Illinois at Chicago’s School of Public Health. “But until we perform the studies to determine if there are corresponding health consequences that could be related to higher levels of exposure to arsenic and mercury by eating gluten-free, more research is needed before we can determine whether this diet poses a significant health risk.”