Condition
Arsenic Poisoning
Arsenic poisoning happens when inorganic arsenic, often from contaminated drinking water, builds up in the body and damages cells, causing skin lesions and raising the risk of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. The evidence is strongest for charcoal, which limited how much arsenic the gut absorbed after acute poisoning, and moderate for NAC and selenium. Charcoal only applies to sudden exposure, and the evidence for antioxidants is thinner: curcumin raised antioxidant enzyme levels, but the evidence is limited.
- Supplements studied
- 4
- Graded outcomes
- 3
- Trials
- 2
- People studied
- 327
Evidence by supplement
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toxin Absorption Prevention Well-established treatment for acute poisoning. Most effective within 1 hour of ingestion. Standard emergency medicine practice. | Changes; see studies | Large effect | 2,000 people |
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-Oxidant Enzyme Profile Moderate Increase | Improves (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect | 286 people | |||
| Oxidative Stress Biomarkers | Improves (the measure goes down) | 6 studies | 286 people | |||
Studies that measured oxidative stress biomarkers
| ||||||
| DNA Damage | Changes; see studies | 286 people | ||||
Rhamnogalacturonan I
- Heavy Metal Excretion: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy Metal Excretion Several human studies using Modified Citrus Pectin (which contains RG-I) have demonstrated increased urinary excretion of lead, arsenic, and cadmium. MCP is used as a gentle chelation therapy, though the contribution of RG-I specifically versus other pectin components is unclear. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect |
Spirulina
- Arsenic Poisoning Signs and Symptoms: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic Poisoning Signs and Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 1 study | 41 people | |||
Studies that measured arsenic poisoning signs and symptoms | ||||||
Key findings
- Toxin Absorption PreventionChanges; see studies
- Anti-Oxidant Enzyme ProfileImproves (the measure goes up)
- Heavy Metal ExcretionImproves (the measure goes up)
The Arsenic Toxicity Supportive Care protocol
2 primary supplements · 5 supporting supplements
- N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)600–1,200 mg twice daily
- Selenium100–200 mcg daily (do not exceed 400 mcg)
Studies cited
7 studies from PubMed
- Efficacy of spirulina extract plus zinc in patients of chronic arsenic poisoning: a randomized placebo-controlled study
- Efficacy of antioxidant intervention and exercise intervention for lipid peroxidation in dialysis patients: a meta-analysis.
- Six-month randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, pilot clinical trial of curcumin in patients with Alzheimer disease
- Improvement in oxidative stress and antioxidant parameters in beta-thalassemia/Hb E patients treated with curcuminoids
- Curcumin protects DNA damage in a chronically arsenic-exposed population of West Bengal
- Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of curcuminoid-piperine combination in subjects with metabolic syndrome: A randomized controlled trial and an updated meta-analysis
- The effects of curcumin-containing supplements on biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.