Aluminum Uptake by the Parathyroid Glands

Abstract

Aluminum-containing drugs are used extensively to bind dietary phosphate and as antacids, but little is known about toxicity and tissue uptake of ingested aluminum. Aluminum concentrations were measured by neutron activation analysis in tissues taken from hyperparathyroid and normal human subjects and from rats. The parathyroid glands contained significantly more aluminum per unit mass than did thyroid or cervical muscle. The concentration of aluminum in the parathyroids appears to be linearly related to dietary aluminum intake.