ALUMINUM UPTAKE FROM SOME FOODS BY GUINEA-PIGS AND THE CHARACTERIZATION OF ALUMINUM IN IN-VIVO INTESTINAL DIGESTA BY SEC-ICP-MS

The uptake of ingested aluminium (Al) from food items commonly consume d in a normal human diet was investigated by feeding five test diets t o guinea pigs. Al concentrations were measured in the femur, brain, ki dney and upper intestinal contents. Consumption of these diets did not lead to elevated Al levels in brain. Levels of Al in the bone were el evated in animals fed sponge cake with a permitted Al-containing addit ive, and the presence of citrate as orange juice enhanced bone deposit ion and increased kidney Al levels. Less than 1% of Al in the upper in testinal contents was found in the soluble fraction, and characterizat ion by SEC-ICP-MS indicated that this Al was not present as Al-citrate .