Gluten-Free Eaters Have Higher Levels Of Arsenic And Mercury In Their Bodies

From National Institutes of Health, US National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus, "Possible Drawback to Gluten-Free: Toxic Metals: Higher levels of arsenic, mercury found in people who follow this eating plan, study finds" by Robert Preidt [Alternate working weblink: https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/celiac-disease/news/20170216/possible-drawback-to-gluten-free-toxic-metals]:

Gluten-free products often contain rice flour as a substitute for wheat, rye and barley. And rice is known to accumulate arsenic and mercury from fertilizers, soil and water, said [Maria] Argos, an assistant professor of epidemiology in the [University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC)] School of Public Health.

For the study, the researchers analyzed U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from thousands of Americans, aged 6 to 80. The investigators identified 73 people who said they ate a gluten-free diet.

Compared to other survey participants, those who ate gluten-free diets had nearly twice the levels of arsenic in their urine, and 70 percent higher levels of mercury in their blood, according to the study.***Arsenic and mercury, which occur naturally in the environment, raise the risk of heart disease, cancer and neurological problems at certain levels, the researchers said.