Reviewed by Lexie CornerApr 7 2025
A crew led by Brent Wagner, MD, a professor within the College of New Mexico’s Faculty of Medication Division of Inside Medication, carried out a examine printed within the journal Magnetic Resonance Imaging. The examine aimed to research the formation of nanoparticles which were related to vital well being points within the kidneys and different organs.
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Researchers on the College of New Mexico have discovered that oxalic acid, a compound discovered in lots of meals, can produce gadolinium nanoparticles in human tissues. Gadolinium is a rare-earth steel utilized in MRI scans, and its distinction brokers are administered to boost picture readability.
The worst illness brought on by MRI distinction brokers is nephrogenic systemic fibrosis. Folks have succumbed after only a single dose.
Brent Wagner, MD, Professor, Division of Inside Medication, Faculty of Medication, College of New Mexico
In response to Wagner, gadolinium-based distinction brokers are usually sure to different molecules and eradicated from the physique, with most people experiencing no antagonistic results. Nevertheless, earlier research have detected gadolinium particles within the kidneys, mind, blood, and urine of people—even years after publicity—regardless of the absence of signs.
This raises two key questions: why do some people expertise well being points whereas most don’t, and the way do gadolinium particles separate from the distinction agent molecules?
Virtually half of the sufferers had been uncovered solely a single time, which implies that there’s something that’s amplifying the illness sign. This nanoparticle formation would possibly clarify just a few issues. It’d clarify why there may be such an amplification of the illness. When a cell is making an attempt to cope with this alien metallic nanoparticle inside it, it’ll ship out alerts that inform the physique to answer it.
Brent Wagner, MD, Professor, Division of Inside Medication, Faculty of Medication, College of New Mexico
Wagner’s crew targeted their examine on oxalic acid, a compound discovered in lots of plant-based meals resembling spinach, rhubarb, most nuts, berries, and chocolate, because it binds to steel ions. This course of contributes to the formation of kidney stones, as oxalate binds to calcium. Moreover, when people devour vitamin C-rich meals or dietary supplements, their our bodies produce oxalic acid.
In take a look at tube experiments, the researchers discovered that oxalic acid prompted small quantities of gadolinium to precipitate out of the distinction agent, forming nanoparticles that subsequently entered cells in a number of organs.
Wagner added, “Some folks would possibly kind this stuff, whereas different don’t, and it could be their metabolic milieu. It is likely to be in the event that they had been in a excessive oxalic state or a state the place molecules are extra susceptible to linking to the gadolinium, resulting in the formation of the nanoparticles. That is likely to be why some people have such terrible signs and this large illness response, whereas different persons are positive.”
This discovery could present a possible technique for mitigating a few of the dangers related to MRI scans, Wagner famous.
Wagner added, “I’d not take vitamin C if I wanted to have an MRI with distinction due to the reactivity of the steel. I hope that we’re getting nearer to some suggestions for serving to these people.”
The crew is now engaged on strategies to determine people most in danger from gadolinium distinction brokers. They’re creating a worldwide affected person registry that can embody blood, urine, fingernail, and hair samples to supply proof of gadolinium accumulation within the physique.
Wagner concluded, “We need to get much more data to give you the danger components that relate to these with signs. We’re going to ask about what medical circumstances you had on the time of publicity, what medicines you might be on, and we need to embody dietary dietary supplements as a result of that may piece all of it collectively why some folks have signs, whereas others appear to be impervious.”
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