PLASMA ALUMINUM IN A REFERENCE POPULATION - THE EFFECTS OF ANTACID CONSUMPTION AND ITS INFLUENCE ON BIOCHEMICAL INDEXES OF BONE-FORMATION

Aluminium is involved in the etiology of several complications of chro nic renal failure and has been firmly established as having toxic effe cts on bone tissue. We have measured plasma aluminium together with se rum osteocalcin, procollagen I C-terminal peptide and total alkaline p hosphatase activity in healthy subjects and in a group of subjects who consumed aluminium-containing and non-aluminium containing antacid pr eparations, with normal renal function. Age-related healthy reference ranges for plasma aluminium are presented and the effects of chronic a ntacid consumption on plasma aluminium and biochemical markers of bone formation investigated. In 172 healthy subjects the mean plasma alumi nium concentration was 4.4+/-2.9 mug L-1, men having a significantly g reater circulating aluminium load than women (5.4+/-2.8 mug L-1 vs. 4. 0+/-2.8 mug L-1 respectively (P=0.0039)). Older men were found to have significantly higher plasma aluminium levels than younger men. Increa sed plasma aluminium was seen in subjects taking antacids although thi s was not associated with significant changes in most indices of bone formation.