Effects of Diet Intakes on Metal and Electrolyte Distributions in Vital Organs

The intake and concentration of metals and electrolytes from our diet are believed to be affecting our general health, in particular, the proper functions of vital organs. For example, in addition to other genetic and environmental factors, consuming water with high alkalinity for prolonged time is suspected to lead to diseases such as kidney stone. Evidence has been accumulating that excessive metal intakes would lead to organ failures. Once absorbed, minerals and electrolytes can travel freely throughout the body, and distribute at key organ systems such as the brain, lung, kidney, etc. By conducting experiments with animal models (e.g., rats), it is possible to not only determine where the organ distribution of various matrices of elements and minerals but also correlate such matrices with the overall physiological and behavioral status of such models. In this study, information matrices of 30 different elements (including heavy metals and some electrolytes) and their distributions in various vital organs (e.g., brain, lung, kidney, liver, heart, spleen, and uterus) were analyzed as a function of normal dietary intake at adulthood (120 days old). An elemental (metal and electrolyte) distribution model was then formulated based on experimental results. The study has high impact to our understanding of how environmental health would affect our well being. This study would also provide insights on how our diet would affect the accumulations of unwanted elements, such as heavy metals, in our vital organs. The results may help researchers and health practitioner to identify possible links between daily diet (metals and electrolytes) and diseases, and may also lead to a better understanding of diseases associated with aging such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, and other neurological disorders.