Garlic Is Natural Lead Detoxifier
Lee Swanson Research Update
Research indicates garlic may be as effective at removing lead from the body as a standard chelation drug. In a study published in the journal Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology, researchers compared the effects of 400 mg garlic tablets (providing the equivalent of 2 grams of fresh garlic) three times per day with the heavy-metal chelating drug D-penicilllamine in subjects with chronic mild-to-moderate lead poisoning resulting from occupational exposure in the car battery industry. Outcomes measured included blood lead concentrations (BLCs), and improvements in neurological and musculoskeletal symptoms of lead toxicity.
While there was a similar number of adverse reactions between the two treatment groups, the garlic was better tolerated, as the severity of side effects was greater in the D-penicillamine group, with seventeen subjects unable to complete the study as a result of severe adverse reactions, compared to seven individuals in the garlic group. Among the 60 subjects who completed the study, pretreatment BLCs were similar between the garlic and D-penicillamine groups, and BLCs decreased significantly in all subjects after treatment, suggesting garlic may have chelating capabilities comparable to D-penicillamine. However, while neuropsychiatric and neuromuscular symptoms improved in subjects taking garlic, there was no symptomatic improvement in the D-penicillamine group. Because post-treatment BLCs were similar between the two groups, the improvement in symptoms in the garlic group appears to be due to the antioxidant effects of compounds found in garlic.
The study authors concluded that “…garlic was as effective as D-penicillamine in significant reduction of BLCs. In addition, garlic revealed less side effects and more clinical improvement than D-penicillamine.”
Kianoush S, et al. Comparison of Therapeutic Effects of Garlic and D-Penicillamine in Patients with Chronic Occupational Lead Poisoning. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2012 May; 110 (5): 476-81. doi: 10.1111/j.1742-7843.2011.00841.x