Strontium alginates

Hollriegl V, Rohmuss M, Oeh U, and Roth P (2004) Strontium biokinetics in humans Influence of alginate on the uptake of ingested strontium. Health Physics 86 193-196. 

The threat of nuclear fallout from atomic weapons testing was the impetus for a large number of studies that investigated methods to prevent absorption of radiostrontium, while not adversely affecting the absorption of calcium. Reasonably effective strategies have included alginates, aluminum phosphate, and sulfates. Less effective or less practical strategies have included cold, diet, dietary fiber, flavones, and stable strontium. 

Biomarkers of exposure and effect are established for children. Since the primary biomarker of effect, rickets, is a late-stage phenomenon, it would be useful to establish precisely a constellation of biomarkers that would identify a precursor condition. Such markers might include relative serum levels of vitamin D, calcium, phosphorus, and phosphatases. The alginate method for reducing peak absorption of strontium has been validated in children (Sutton et al. 1971a). 

Radioactive strontium is its own biomarker of exposure in children and adults. The primary biomarkers of effect, also applicable to children and adults, are a reduction in lymphocyte and other blood cell counts, which closely match the intensity of exposure. The alginate method for reducing peak absorption, described above, has been validated for children (Sutton et al. 1971a). It is not clear whether another recommended treatment, a single dose of aluminum phosphate antacid gel, would be safe for children, since it can have toxic effects in children at high doses. Either method would only be effective if administered very soon after exposure (within an hour). 

Carr TEF, Harrison GE, Humphreys ER, et al. 1968. Reduction in the absorption and retention of dietary strontium in man by alginate. Int J Radiat Biol 14(3) 225-233. 

Gong YF, Huang ZJ, Qiang MY et al. 1991. Suppression of radioactive strontium absorption by sodium alginate in animals and human subjects. Biomed Environ Sci 4 273-282. 

Harrison J, McNeill KG, Janiga A. 1966c. The effect of sodium alginate on the absorption of strontium and calcium in human subjects. Can Med Assoc J 95 532-534. 

Milin L, Anderson JJB. 1968. Whole-body retention of strontium-85 in swine given sodium alginate or barium and sodium sulfates. J Nutr 97 181-184. 

Moore W, Elder RL. 1965. Effect of alginic acid an the movement of strontium-85 and calcium-45 across surviving ileal segments. Nature 206 841-842. 

Patrick G, Carr TEF, Humphreys ER. 1967. Inhibition by alginates of strontium absorption studied in vivo and in vitro. Int J Radiat Biol 12(5) 427-434. 

Paul TM, Skoryna SC, Waldron-Edward D. 1966. Studies on the inhibition of intestinal absorption of radioactive strontium V. The effect of administration of calcium alginate. Can Med Assoc J 95 957-960. 

Skoryna SC, Hong KC, Tanaka Y, et al. 1972. Inhibition of radiostrontium absorption by chemically and enzymatically degraded products of alginates. In International Conference on Strontium Metabolism, ed. Second international conference on strontium metabolism, Glasgow and Strontian, 16-19 August, 1972. TID 4500 59th ed. Health and Safety Laboratory / U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, 297-308. 

Sutton A. 1967. Reduction of strontium absorption in man by the addition of alginate to the diet. Nature 216 1005-1007. 

Sutton A, Harrison GE, Carr TEF. 1971a. Reduction in the absorption of dietary strontium in children by an alginate derivative. Int J Radiat Biol 19(l) 79-80. 

Tanaka Y, Inoue S, Skoryna SC. 1970. Studies on inhibition of intestinal absorption of radioactive strontium IX. Relationship between biological activity and electron microscopic appearance of alginic acid components. Can Med Assoc J 103(5) 484-486. 

TriffittJT. 1968. Binding of calcium and strontium by alginates. Nature 217 457-458. 

D. The uptake by the body of radioisotopes can be blocked in some cases. For example, potassium iodide or iodate if given prior to or soon after an intake of radioiodine, will reduce the uptake of radioiodine by the thyroid gland. Similarly, orally administered Prussian Blue will reduce the absorption of cesium from the gut and Alginate will reduce strontium absorption. No policy exists which would allow for NATO forces to stock and issue chelators. 

Strontium-90 Alginate or aluminum hydroxide-containing antacids may reduce intestinal absorption of strontium. Dose 10 g, then 1 g 4 times daily. Barium sulfate may also reduce Sr absorption. Dose 100 g in 250 mL water PO. Calcium gluconate may dilute the effect of strontium. Dose 2 g in 500 mL PO or IV. Ammonium chloride is a demineralizing agent. Dose 3 g PO 3 times daily. 

Intestinal strontium absorption is also affected by chelating agents. Within this group sodium alginates are of main interest because they have been proven to inhibit the intestinal absorption of strontium, without an appreciable effect on calcium absorption [37,38]. In this respect, they can be a useful tool in the treatment of contamination by radioactive isotopes of strontium. 

Zhang, L., Zhou, J., Zhou, D. Tang, Y. (1999) Adsorption of cadmium and strontium on cellulose/alginic acid ion-exchange membrane. Journal of Membrane Science, 162, 103-109. 

Sodium alginate has the ability to reduce strontium absorption, and the sodium alginate with the highest proportion of guluronic... 

The polysaccharide can exist in a number of chemical forms. It is composed of uronic acids. If the acid groups are in the acid form (-COOH), the polysaccharide is called alginic acid, which is water insoluble. If the acid groups are in the car-boxylate form (-COO ) it is as the alginate or sodium salt (-COONa) or sodium alginate, which is water soluble. If the sodium ions are replaced by a divalent metal ion such as calcium, barium, or strontium, the polysaccharide is cross-linked by the metal ions to form gels. 

One of the most unusual properties that the alginates have is their ability to instantly form gels when they come into contact with solutions of divalent metal ions such as calcium, barium, strontium, cadmium, copper, cobalt, lead, nickel, or zinc. Calcium is the most frequently used cation to form gels [102]. 

Iota-carrageenans can also strongly bind heavy metal The biosynthesis of a-L-guluronic acid occurs via the cations such as a degradation product of radioactive enzymatic epimerization of (3-D-mannuronic acid (Chapter strontium, and Pb within pH range from 4.0 to 6.0 14), and it is accepted that alginic acids are formed by... 

---