Cadmium is an extremely toxic metal that can increase the risk of diabetes, cancer, kidney disease, and osteoporosis. It has a long half-life in the body, ranging from 10 to 30 years, depending on the type of tissue.
Environmental exposure factors
Tobacco smoking is a risk factor for exposure. It’s important not to smoke and to avoid second-hand smoke exposure. Living near a highway is a risk factor due to the high level contained in tires. Living near a zinc mine or a zinc smelting facility is a risk factor.
Contamination of the soil results in absorption by plants and entry into the soil and water. Thus, environmentally responsible practices, both on a small and a large scale, are incredibly important.
Cadmium is present in sewage sludge, commercial fertilizers, and some fungicides. Additionally, it’s present in tires, nickel-cadmium batteries, electronic devices, and cigarettes. It’s really important to practice and support organic agriculture. Additionally, smokers should avoid leaving cigarette butts lying around. From a waste management perspective, it’s important to dispose safely of used tires and used batteries and electronic devices.
Cadmium in food
There are a few distinct issues here that shouldn’t be confused with each other.
- greatest contributors from the typical diet
- highest concentration level
- practices that increase concentration in food
- factors that increase absorption and retention in the human body
For most people, the most significant food sources are grains and grain products: bread, pasta, rice, and baked goods. However, that doesn’t mean that grains are the most concentrated source. In fact, gram for gram, the most concentrated food sources are cacao, cocoa powder, and chocolate (notorious for being a source of both cadmium and lead); offal, especially kidney; shellfish; and mushrooms, leafy greens, and root vegetables grown in contaminated soil.
Additionally, there’s a difference in cadmium level depending on the soil and water quality of the areas in which food is grown and produced. For example, rice from paddies near zinc mines is much higher in cadmium than the average batch of rice. Likewise, food grown organically and far away from highways, factories, and mines are less contaminated than foods grown in high-cadmium soils and than conventionally grown food exposed to commercial fertilizers, sewage sludge, and fungicides.
Food packaging and storage
Beyond food type, environment, and conditions in which the food is grown, there are food storage factors that affect cadmium levels as well. In fact, some plastic and ceramic pigments contain cadmium, so safe food storage is important.
Health problems caused by cadmium
A number of health issues can result from cadmium toxicity, notoriously:
- osteoporosis
- kidney disease
- cancer
- hyperglycemia and diabetes
Factors that may aggravate cadmium toxicity
One key study found that during pregnancy and lactation, iron depletion was a key factor favoring increased cadmium absorption. Because iron depletion is common during pregnancy and after delivery, and especially in women with multiple pregnancies, monitoring maternal iron status is particularly important. Likewise, women should be guided during the preconception period to achieve optimal iron status before conception for the purpose of prevention. Of course, iron overload is its own problem, so more isn’t better, and we’re looking for balance!
An important study on the interactions between vitamin D, essential minerals, and toxic metals reveals that in the absence of sufficient levels of calcium and zinc, vitamin D supplementation can actually favor the absorption of lead and cadmium by stimulating receptors. Thus, optimal mineral status, supported by balanced nutrition and good digestion and absorption, is key to preventing the accumulation of this toxic metal in the body.
While not recent by any means, this review article looks at the relationship of the essential minerals zinc, copper, and iron with the toxic metals lead and cadmium. One study found copper and iron to be protective against lead toxicity, while another study showed that in-utero cadmium exposure reduces the offspring’s stores of zinc, copper, and iron.
And let’s not forget that selenium, vitamin C, and vitamin E are important nutrients for glutathione metabolism, too, alongside amino acids such as cysteine, glutamine, and glycine. Because glutathione is a key antioxidant, you’ll want to keep these nutrients in mind, along with specific foods that support glutathione production. These include okra and nigella sativa (black seed). So a nutrient-dense diet that contains optimal levels of complete protein, balanced levels of micronutrients, and special foods, are very supportive against heavy metal toxicity.
Let’s assess your mineral balance!
If you’re concerned about your cadmium status due to factors in your nutrition or environment, I’d love to help you assess your mineral balance.
If you’re a holistic health practitioner looking for support on your complex client cases, I’d love to mentor you!
Learn more
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1447058/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4539504/#B16
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4780235/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6356330/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32146410/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29310543/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8833665/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1637190/pdf/envhper00482-0142.pdf