Is mercury in Tibetan Medicine toxic? Clinical, neurocognitive and biochemical results of an initial cross-sectional study
| Autor: | Yehudit Harlavan, Rigzin Sangmo, Tsetan Dorji Sadutshang, Sonam Yangdon, Yahav Dory, Tali Bdolah-Abram, Jamyang Tashi, Sarah Sallon, Elinor Cohen, Tsewang Tamdin, Yazeed Barghouthy, Tenzin Yeshi, Galit Sharabi, Michal Rotenberg |
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| Rok vydání: | 2016 |
| Předmět: |
Adult
Male 0301 basic medicine Neurocognitive testing medicine.medical_specialty Cross-sectional study India chemistry.chemical_element Tibetan medicine General Biochemistry Genetics and Molecular Biology 03 medical and health sciences Cognition 0302 clinical medicine Internal medicine Humans Medicine Tibetan Traditional Medicine Mercury Poisoning Nervous System Original Research Traditional medicine business.industry Mercury Mercury (element) Cross-Sectional Studies Spectrometry Fluorescence 030104 developmental biology chemistry Female business Neurocognitive 030217 neurology & neurosurgery |
| Zdroj: | Experimental Biology and Medicine. 242:316-332 |
| ISSN: | 1535-3699 1535-3702 |
| DOI: | 10.1177/1535370216672748 |
| Popis: | Mercury an important therapeutic substance in Tibetan Medicine undergoes complex “detoxification” prior to inclusion in multi-ingredient formulas. In an initial cross-sectional study, patients taking Tibetan Medicine for various conditions were evaluated for mercury toxicity. Two groups were identified: Group 1, patients taking “ Tsothel” the most important detoxified mercury preparation and Group 2, patients taking other mercury preparations or mercury free Tibetan Medicine. Atomic fluorescence spectrometry of Tibetan Medicine showed mercury consumption 130 µg/kg/day (Group 1) and 30 µg/kg/day (Group 2) ( P ≤ 0.001), levels above EPA (RfDs) suggested threshold (0.3 µg/kg /day) for oral chronic exposure. Mean duration of Tibetan Medicine treatment was 9 ± 17 months (range 3–116) (Group 1) and 5 ± 1.96 months (range 1–114) (Group 2) (NS) with cumulative days of mercury containing Tibetan Medicine, 764 days ± 1214 (range 135–7330) vs. 103 days ± 111 (range 0–426), respectively ( P ≤ 0.001). Comparison of treatment groups with healthy referents (Group 3) not taking Tibetan Medicine showed no significant differences in prevalence of 23 non-specific symptoms of mercury toxicity, abnormal neurological, cardiovascular and dental findings and no correlation with mercury exposure variables; consumption, cumulative treatment days, blood/ urine Hg. Liver and renal function tests in treatment groups were not significantly increased compared to referents, with mean urine Beta2 Microglobulin within the normal range and not significantly associated with Hg exposure variables after correcting for confounding variables. Neurocognitive testing showed no significant intergroup differences for Wechsler Memory Scale, Grooved Pegboard, Visual Retention, but Group1 scores were better for Mini-Mental, Brief Word Learning, Verbal Fluency after correcting for confounding variables. These results suggest mercury containing Tibetan Medicine does not have appreciable adverse effects and may exert a possible beneficial effect on neurocognitive function. Since evidence of mercury as a toxic heavy metal, however, is well known, further analysis of literature on mercury use in other Asian traditional systems is highly suggested prior to further studies. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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