The Health Diva

Although the use of lead paint and leaded gasoline has been discontinued in the U.S., lead toxicity continues to be a significant health problem, especially in children living in urban areas. Abnormal growth and development has been observed in infants of women exposed to lead during pregnancy, while children who are chronically exposed to lead are more likely to develop learning disabilities, behavioral problems, and to have low IQs. In adults, lead toxicity may result in kidney damage and high blood pressure. In a study of 747 older men, blood lead levels were significantly higher in those who reported total dietary vitamin C intakes averaging less than 109 mg/day compared to men who reported higher vitamin C intakes (26).

A much larger study of 19,578 people, including 4,214 children from 6 to 16 years of age, found higher serum vitamin C levels to be associated with significantly lower blood lead level (27).

An intervention trial that examined the effects of vitamin C supplementation on blood lead levels in 75 adult male smokers found that 1,000 mg/day of vitamin C resulted in significantly lower blood lead levels over a 4-week treatment period compared to placebo (28). A lower dose of 200 mg/day did not significantly affect blood lead levels, despite the finding that serum vitamin C levels were not different than those of the group that took 1,000 mg/day. The mechanism for the relationship between vitamin C intake and blood lead levels is not known, although it has been postulated that vitamin C may inhibit intestinal absorption or enhance urinary excretion of lead.

Additional vitamin intake, through the use of nutrient supplementation, can help speed up the removal process. Daily consumption of additional vitamin C and selenium is likely to protect children by helping to eliminate heavy metals from their bodies. One easy and inexpensive way to increase intake of these nutrients is by taking a vitamin C supplement with each meal, along with a multivitamin containing selenium.