Lead and other heavy metals occur naturally in soil and water, so achieving zero exposure to one of them would be impossible.
A new study by Consumer Reports claims that some protein supplements contain dangerously high levels of lead, as well as other heavy metals such as cadmium and arsenic.
In recent years, protein-rich foods and nutritional supplements have witnessed remarkable popularity in the health sector in the United States and Europe. One of the reasons for this is that protein enhances the feeling of satiety and helps prevent overeating.
Athletes especially use these products to increase muscle mass in their bodies.
Although many health experts note that there is no need to consume additional grams of protein by consuming expensive powders or processed drinks and foods.
The study tested 23 protein supplements from popular brands by sending three samples of each product to a different commercial laboratory.
The organization determined that more than two-thirds of protein supplements tested contained more lead per serving than the safe amount to take daily (0.5 micrograms).
Any amount exceeding 0.5 micrograms per day from any source is above the maximum recommended lead levels. This figure comes from the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, which has set recommended maximum levels for a variety of substances that may cause cancer or harm the health of unborn children.
The US Food and Drug Administration has set the maximum amount of lead that a person can consume from any food product at 5 micrograms per day. This number is 10 times higher than the number recommended by Consumer Reports.
This difference is because the FDA has another standard for determining the total daily amount of lead a person can safely consume from food, drugs and supplements. Every food, drug and dietary supplement that contains lead contributes to the total daily exposure, which should be less than the specified number.
This number is based on the concentration of lead in the blood that is associated with negative health effects in different population groups, and for adults it is 12.5 micrograms, for children it is 2.2 micrograms, and for pregnant women it is 8.8 micrograms.
The organization found that 16 of the 23 protein supplements it tested exceeded 0.5 micrograms, the lead level the organization considers safe.
Four of the 23 products exceeded 2.2 micrograms, and two products contained 72% and 88%, respectively, of the total daily amount of lead that the FDA considers safe for pregnant women.
Two of the 23 products contained more than what was considered a safe amount of cadmium per serving, and one contained more arsenic than the recommended limit.
The safe amount to consume for cadmium is 4.1 micrograms per day, and for arsenic it is 7 micrograms. These numbers are fairly consistent with the FDA’s recommended exposure limit of 5 micrograms per day for cadmium and 15 micrograms for arsenic.
Where do these heavy metals come from?
Lead and other heavy metals are found in large quantities in volcanic rocks. When volcanic rocks erode, they contaminate local soil and water supplies with toxic metals.
Also, some cultivated plants absorb heavy metals from the soil and store them in their parts that are ingested by consumers.
Likewise, fossil fuels, which come from deep within the earth, produce heavy metals when burned. Also, some fertilizers and pesticides may contain these toxic metals and increase soil and water pollution.
This is in addition to the discovery of high levels of heavy metals in protein supplements made from plant sources, and in spices such as cinnamon and dark chocolate, vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes, and rice, and legumes such as peas.
Plant-derived protein products contain nine times the amount of lead found in dairy proteins such as whey, and twice as much lead as in beef-derived supplements.
Repeated exposure to heavy metals can cause significant harm when these substances accumulate in the blood and cause poor mental performance, nerve damage, osteomalacia, and also raise blood pressure, which in turn increases the risk of strokes and heart attacks. Exposure to heavy metals may also increase the risk of cancer.
Consumers can reduce significant exposure to heavy metals by choosing sources of protein supplements made from dairy or animal products, as they appear to be less contaminated with heavy metals than plant products. Intermittent rather than daily use of protein supplements also reduces the risk of repeated exposure to heavy metals.
The bottom line is that the wide variation in lead levels in different protein supplements highlights the need for manufacturers to tighten oversight of their industries.