A Canadian woman in Ontario visited the emergency department multiple times due to severe abdominal pain, constipation, nausea, and vomiting. After undergoing diagnostic tests, it was determined that she had lead poisoning caused by toxic herbal remedies. The supplements she was taking, rooted in Ayurvedic medicine, contained lead, arsenic, and mercury, which have harmful effects on the nervous system and can increase the risk of certain cancers and complications for expectant mothers and their babies.
The patient’s blood lead level was found to be 11 times higher than the maximum safe level, at 55 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL). She had been taking these supplements for over a year to treat her infertility, but she did not disclose this information to her clinicians until later, which hindered the accuracy of her diagnosis.
Lead is sometimes added to Ayurvedic supplements for infertility due to traditional beliefs that it promotes overall health and vitality. It is unclear whether the lead and other metals were added accidentally during the manufacturing process or intentionally. Lead exposure can have various health effects, including behavioral changes, anemia, seizures, and infertility, which may be misdiagnosed as other illnesses.
In addition to infertility, the patient also had a history of thyroid dysfunction, which affected her metabolism and energy production. She was admitted to the hospital to explore gastrointestinal bleeding and anemia, as her blood cells were abnormal and lacked the usual healthy appearance. Despite normal levels of minerals, hormones, and other tests, her bones were storing excess iron.
After leaving the hospital, the patient’s abdominal pain improved but she experienced fatigue, difficulty breathing, headaches, and ringing in her ears. Further testing revealed elevated levels of substances related to porphyria, indicating a deficiency in heme production. It wasn’t until a month after her hospitalization that she revealed her use of Ayurvedic supplements to help with pregnancy, stopping only after leaving the hospital initially.
Public Health Ontario tested the supplements provided by the patient and found high levels of lead, mercury, and arsenic in most of the samples. It is unclear whether these supplements were illegal, but the strict regulations in Canada suggest that they may have bypassed the approval process. Ayurveda, a traditional healing practice from India, utilizes herbal remedies and holistic methods to balance the body and mind.
Doctors emphasized the need for considering lead poisoning as a potential cause for patients with similar symptoms and test results. It is estimated that 20% of Ayurvedic pills sold online from US and India-based manufacturers contain high levels of heavy metals.
While Canada has rigorous pre-market approval processes for supplements, the US lacks the same level of regulation and only reacts to issues after they arise. This lenient approach has contributed to the growth of the supplement industry, which is valued at billions of dollars. However, many reputable authorities question the efficacy of supplements and advocate for investing in real food instead.
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