By Lawrence Wilson, MD

I have observed in the past few years that iron, manganese and aluminum toxicity are often found together. However, it is rare that all three are elevated at the same time on a hair mineral analysis. Therefore, one must use a special method to identify this pattern.

The rule. If any one of these three minerals are elevated on a hair mineral analysis, the others are present in excess as well. The level of aluminum that I consider elevated is about 0.25 mg%. The level of manganese is about 0.04 mg% and the level of iron that is considered high is about 1.9 to 2 mg%. This is important because different laboratories use quite different normal values at times.

For example, Analytical Research Labs uses a normal iron level of 3.5 mg%. I find this too high and have informed them of my observations.

Hidden amigos. Most often, aluminum is clearly elevated, while iron and manganese, however, are very low on many hair mineral tests. This appears to occur because they are sequestered deep in the liver or in other organs and are in fact biologically unavailable. For this reason, they do not show up on the hair mineral analysis.

Biounavailability of high or hidden iron and manganese. It is important to know that the forms of iron and manganese, and perhaps aluminum as well, may be an oxide or other biounavailable form of the mineral. This is a very toxic form such as MnO6, FeO2, FeO3 and AlO2. These are not usable by the body.

For this reason, we often supplement manganese when the hair level is high. I have found no problems doing this, although some practitioners seem hesitant to use manganese in these cases. Remember, the supplement is in a bioavailable form.

Rarely, one must supplement with a bioavailable form of iron as well, even if the hair iron level is elevated. This does not seem to present any problems, either.

SYMPTOMS OF THE THREE AMIGOS

Iron, manganese and aluminum toxicity can contribute to many health conditions, both individually and collectively. Let us begin with the collective effect.

ADRENAL SUPPORT

The main collective effect is that the three amigos appear to stimulate or irritate the adrenal glands, causing them to function a little better than they otherwise would. This occurs when the adrenals glands are tired or depleted.

Without the amigo’s irritating or stimulating action, adrenal underactivity causes many severe symptoms. These may include low blood sugar, low blood pressure, fatigue, joint pain and more.

The three amigos appear to help offset or moderate these symptoms in most slow oxidizers, in fact. That is our observation, at least, at this time.

As the three amigos are eliminated from the body, a rebound reduction in adrenal activity often occurs. This is rarely noticeable, however, because at the same time we always support adrenal activity with vitamin B-complex, B5 in particular, vitamin C, adrenal and thyroid glandular substance and other supportive nutrients in many instances. Therefore the person often just feels more stable and energetic, in spite of reducing the stimulatory effects of the three amigos.

INDIVIDUAL EFFECTS OF IRON, MANGANESE AND ALUMINUM

Individual and collective effects of the three amigos. These are many and may include diabetes, cancer, heart disease, joint pain, strange behavioral disorders such as rage, anger, violence and anti-social behavior.

Many psychological disorders are associated with iron and manganese toxicity. Some are named such as “manganese madness”. Aluminum is well known to affect memory and behavior as well.

Iron, for example, can deposit in the pancreas and cause a form of diabetes that is quite common. Unfortunately, doctors do not look to the cause of diabetes or they would find it by biopsying the pancreas. Iron, of course, can also deposit in the heart and the arteries leading to hemochromatosis and hemosiderosis, among other conditions. It also accumulates in the joints in some cases and is associated with infections.

Manganese can also deposit in the joints, arteries, brain, liver and elsewhere. We are studying the mild effects of elevated manganese in several communities on the east coast of the United States including Warwick, Massachusetts, for example. Here the water supply is contaminated with manganese, as evidenced by many people with very high hair manganese levels for no other apparent reason.

Most of these people seem to have symptoms that include dizziness, ear problems such as Meniere’s syndrome or tinnitus, and some have copper toxicity symptoms, possibly as a compensatory mechanism. They may also suffer skin disorders, emotional issues, joint problems, muscle twitching and disturbed sleep, all of which can be due to copper toxicity or perhaps due to the manganese elevation. As the manganese comes down, these often improve.

Aluminum is well-known to interfere with cognitive function, memory and other mentally-related functions. Aluminum is very widespread in the environment, so it is hard to avoid for most people. Among the most important sources are table salt, to which aluminum is often added.

Other sources are anti-perspirants, anti-acids, aluminum cookware if used a lot, aluminum cans possibly, though not usually, and certain foods such as mint teas of all kinds.

Aluminum is usually added to municipal drinking water supplies as an agent that makes dirt and other particles clump up so they can be removed from the water. This clarifies the water but adds aluminum to it, a deadly toxic metal. It is just one of many reasons to avoid tap water most of the time.

Unfortunately, only distillation and perhaps reverse osmosis will remove the aluminum. Also, all foods made with tap water, including all breads, pastries, many juices, pickles and thousands more items are thus often high in aluminum for this reason.

ELIMINATING THE THREE AMIGOS

Only as the adrenal glands are restored will these sequestered metals be released. They are more difficult to release than other minerals that can support adrenal activity such as copper, mercury, cadmium, nickel, arsenic, chromium and selenium.

It can take a lot of work and time to release hidden iron and manganese. Only by staying on a nutritional balancing program for several years or more will toxic amounts of iron and manganese begin to be eliminated in many people, although in some it comes out much sooner.

In many cases, sauna therapy or coffee enemas are required in addition to diet and nutrient therapy to release stored iron, manganese and aluminum. Therapies such as oral or intravenous chelation can remove some, but to release the deeper layers of sequestered toxic metals requires a much slower process of rebuilding the adrenal glands and balancing the autonomic nervous system.

Calcium is an excellent antagonist at times for aluminum and possibly for iron. Other general antagonists are zinc, selenium, chromium and other vital minerals. Often one must supplement with bioavailable manganese, however, to rid the body of all the three amigos. I have never found this a problem, even if the hair tissue manganese level is extremely elevated.

THE FOURTH AND FIFTH AMIGOS

Two other minerals are often associated with manganese, iron and aluminum and appear to perform some of the same functions in supporting the adrenal glands. These are chromium and selenium.

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