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Email a friendDoes Aluminum Cause Alzheimer's or Breast Cancer?
Newspaper Columns, Herb & Home Remedy Q&A August 11, 2008
Q. I have heard about a link between aluminum in antiperspirants and breast cancer. I have also read that aluminum may be associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Every antiperspirant I have checked has aluminum as its main ingredient, which worries me.I switched to a deodorant of mineral salts to get away from aluminum, but I’ve just discovered that it contains alum. Is that aluminum? The crystal works great, but I don’t want aluminum in my life in any form. Is there anything I can use that doesn’t contain aluminum?
A. There is a controversy about links between aluminum and Alzheimer’s disease and breast cancer. Neither association has been proven. Nevertheless, there is some troubling research suggesting a possible connection (Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, Sept. 2005; Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, May, 2007). Scientists do not know whether enough aluminum is absorbed from antiperspirants to pose a risk.
Alum, which is found in many “natural” rock or stone deodorants, is aluminum potassium sulfate. Ammonium alum (ammonium aluminum sulfate) is also used in deodorant crystals.
We don’t know whether there is a problem with such products, but there is a safe alternative, milk of magnesia (magnesium hydroxide). We recently received the following message from a reader: “After searching the Web for how to get rid of strong underarm odor, I found your article on the laxative method. I have been using milk of magnesia under my arms ever since. It is a life saver!”
Tags: Aluminum, Alzheimer's disease, Antiperspirant, Breast Cancer, Deodorant, Magnesium
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Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist. Teresa Graedon holds a doctorate in medical anthropology and is a nutrition expert. Their syndicated radio show can be heard on public radio. In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of this newspaper or e-mail them via their Web site: www.PeoplesPharmacy.com.
© 2008 King Features Syndicate, Inc.
Reader Comments
When I heard on your program someone rave about milk of magnesia as a deodorant I read the ingredients of J & J baby powder, and it too had magnesia in it. We've used the J&J after our showers for over 50 years, so I tried using extra under my armpits instead of a deodorant. IT WORKS JUST FINE. Deodorant was making my skin break out, even Almay.
Posted by: heide k | August 15, 2008 12:20 PM
I have been using deodorant rather than antiperspirant for years due to the aluminum worry. I recently tried Milk Of Magnesia based on the People's Pharmacy comments. It works great! Better than deodorant!
Posted by: tmf | August 19, 2008 12:43 AM