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Nutrient Details For : Arsenic

A nutrient is any element or compound necessary for or contributing to an organism's metabolism, growth, or other functioning. Click name for details Arsenic Biotin Boron Calcium Carbohydrates Carnitine Carotenoids Chloride Choline Chromium Copper Energy Fiber Fluoride Folate Iodine Iron Lipids Magnesium Manganese Molybdenum Niacin Nickel Pantothenic acid Phosphorus Phyto-chemicals Potassium Protein Riboflavin Selenium Silicon Sodium Thiamin Vanadium Vitamin A Vitamin B 12 Vitamin B 6 Vitamin C Vitamin D Vitamin E Vitamin K Zinc Further Trace Elements

Commonly known for its toxic properties, arsenic (As) has been shown to have beneficial actions when fed in very small amounts to laboratory animals.

Deficiencies:

The most consistent signs of arsenic deprivation in rodents are decreased growth, higher death rate of young, rougher and yellowish hair coats (in white rats), elevated erythrocytes osmotic fragility, elevated spleen iron and splenomegaly. However, the severity and variation of these deficiency signs depend upon several dietary factors including the zinc, arginine, choline, methionine and guanidoacetic acid content. A recent human study suggested that arsenic homeostasis is altered by hemodialysis, and that low serum arsenic is correlated with central nervous system disorders, vascular disease, and "possibly" cancer.

Recommendations:

It is inappropriate to give dietary recommendations. Our normal diet may contain 12 to 50 µg As/day, and thus the postulated arsenic requirement for humans apparently can be met by food and water normally consumed.

Food sources:

Arsenic (inorganic and organic) in the diet is contributed by various foods including cereals and breads, 18.1%; starchy vegetables, 14.9%; and meats and fish, 32.1%. About 20% of the daily intake of arsenic is inorganic. Arsenic in water is almost all inorganic and most drinking water contains less than 10 µg As/L and, typically, 2 to 3 µg/L. Drinking water can contribute 20 µg inorganic As/day.

Toxicity:

Toxicity of organic arsenicals, including compounds such as monomethylarsonic acid, dimethylarsenic acid, arsenobetaine, and arsenocholine, is low. Inorganic forms are more toxic than organic forms of arsenic; generally arsenite (+3) is more toxic than arsenate (+5). Signs of inorganic arsenic toxicity include dermatosis, hematopoietic depression, liver damage, sensory disturbances, peripheral neuritis, anorexia, and skin and internal cancers.

Chemical information on Arsenic

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