Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Comparative Study
. 2009 Nov;24(11):1175-82.
doi: 10.1007/s11606-009-1050-5. Epub 2009 Jul 3.

Herbal supplement use and blood lead levels of United States adults

Catherine Buettner  1 , Kenneth J Mukamal, Paula Gardiner, Roger B Davis, Russell S Phillips, Murray A Mittleman
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Herbal supplement use and blood lead levels of United States adults

Catherine Buettner et al. J Gen Intern Med. 2009 Nov.

Abstract

Background: Some herbal supplements may contain lead.

Objective: To examine whether use of specific herbal dietary supplements during the last 30 days is associated with blood lead levels in US men and women.

Design: Cross-sectional analysis.

Study population: NHANES participants from 1999-2004, a representative sample of the civilian non-institutionalized US population.

Measurements: Lead was measured in blood. Associations between lead and self-reported supplement use were estimated using multivariable regression weighted to account for NHANES sampling. Herbal supplements investigated were those previously reported to contain high heavy metal content: Ayurvedic or traditional Chinese medicine herbs, echinacea, ginkgo, ginseng, St. John's wort, and "other" herbs (specifically, kava, valerian, black cohosh, bee pollen, and nettle).

Main results: Among 6,712 women > or =20 years, those using herbal supplements had lead levels that were 10% higher than non-users (95% CI 3%-17%, p = 0.005). Women using Ayurvedic or traditional Chinese medicine herbs, St. John's wort, and "other" herbs had lead levels 24% (95% CI 5%-45%, p = 0.01), 23% (95% CI 4%-46%), p = 0.02), and 21% (95% CI 2%-44%, p = 0.03) higher, respectively, than non-users. No significant associations were observed between herb use and lead levels among men (n = 6,095). Among reproductive-aged women (16-45 years), herbal supplement users had lead levels 20% higher than non-users (95% CI 5%-34%, p = 0.008). In contrast, garlic and other dietary supplements were not associated with higher lead levels.

Conclusion: Use of specific herbal supplements is associated with higher blood lead levels among women. Our data suggest testing guidelines for herbal supplements and regulations limiting lead in supplements are needed.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Adjusted estimated difference and 95% CI in blood lead levels (BLL) among women and men ≥20 years by use of specific herbal supplements, ginkgo, echinacea, ginseng (Asian, American, or eleuthero), St. John’s wort (SJW), traditional Chinese medicine herbs (TCM) or Ayurvedic herbs, or “other” (kava, valerian, black cohosh, bee pollen, and nettle). Adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, educational levels, country of birth, income, year home was built, smoking status, BMI, renal function (estimated GFR), calcium supplement use, and use of a water treatment device.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Adjusted estimated difference and 95% CI in blood lead levels (BLL) among women of child-bearing age by use of specific herbal supplements, ginkgo, echinacea, ginseng (Asian, American, or eleuthero), St. John’s wort (SJW), traditional Chinese medicine herbs (TCM) and/or Ayurvedic herbs, or “other” (kava, valerian, black cohosh, bee pollen, and nettle). Adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, educational levels, country of birth, income, year home built, smoking status, BMI, renal function (estimated GFR), calcium supplement use, and use of a water-treatment device.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

References

    1. {'text': '', 'ref_index': 1, 'ids': [{'type': 'DOI', 'value': '10.1001/jama.272.4.284', 'is_inner': False, 'url': 'https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.272.4.284'}, {'type': 'PubMed', 'value': '8028141', 'is_inner': True, 'url': 'https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8028141/'}]}
    2. Pirkle JL, Brody DJ, Gunter EW, et al. The decline in blood lead levels in the United States. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES). JAMA. 1994;272(4):284–91. - PubMed
    1. {'text': '', 'ref_index': 1, 'ids': [{'type': 'PubMed', 'value': '17063179', 'is_inner': True, 'url': 'https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17063179/'}]}
    2. Ekong EB, Jaar BG, Weaver VM. Lead-related nephrotoxicity: a review of the epidemiologic evidence. Kidney Int. 2006;70(12):2074–84. - PubMed
    1. {'text': '', 'ref_index': 1, 'ids': [{'type': 'PMC', 'value': 'PMC1892138', 'is_inner': False, 'url': 'https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1892138/'}, {'type': 'PubMed', 'value': '17589593', 'is_inner': True, 'url': 'https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17589593/'}]}
    2. Jain NB, Potula V, Schwartz J, et al. Lead levels and ischemic heart disease in a prospective study of middle-aged and elderly men: the VA Normative Aging Study. Environ Health Perspect. 2007;115(6):871–5. - PMC - PubMed
    1. {'text': '', 'ref_index': 1, 'ids': [{'type': 'DOI', 'value': '10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.106.628321', 'is_inner': False, 'url': 'https://doi.org/10.1161/circulationaha.106.628321'}, {'type': 'PubMed', 'value': '16982939', 'is_inner': True, 'url': 'https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16982939/'}]}
    2. Menke A, Muntner P, Batuman V, Silbergeld EK, Guallar E. Blood lead below 0.48 micromol/l (10 microg/dl) and mortality among US adults. Circulation. 2006;114(13):1388–94. - PubMed
    1. {'text': '', 'ref_index': 1, 'ids': [{'type': 'DOI', 'value': '10.1046/j.1523-1755.2003.00812.x', 'is_inner': False, 'url': 'https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1523-1755.2003.00812.x'}, {'type': 'PubMed', 'value': '12631086', 'is_inner': True, 'url': 'https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12631086/'}]}
    2. Muntner P, He J, Vupputuri S, Coresh J, Batuman V. Blood lead and chronic kidney disease in the general United States population: results from NHANES III. Kidney Int. 2003;63(3):1044–50. - PubMed

Publication types