| ■ Arsenic Found in Herbal Kelp Supplements | 07.04.11 |
| People who use herbal kelp supplements are at risk of arsenic poisoning, California researchers concluded from a new study. Scientists at the University of California, Davis, said their research was prompted by the case of a 54-year-old woman who had a two-year history of hair loss, fatigue, and memory loss. School doctors had traced the woman from relatively minor symptoms that got progressively worse as she began to use a variety of herbal therapies, including a kelp supplement. In a statement, the scientists noted that over a period of several months, the woman's memory problems became so bad that she could no longer remember her home address. Other symptoms included rash, nausea, and vomiting. The woman actually increased her use of the kelp supplements from two to four pills daily as doctors continued to search for a diagnosis. Subsequent tests revealed arsenic in the woman's blood and urine. When the woman stopped the kelp supplements, her symptoms cleared within weeks, the researchers said. The study is published in the April issue of the journal, Environmental Health Perspectives. |