One of my reader is involved with a group of CFSers in Europe and one of the members got a lab report that they were very high in aluminum. This is a testable and have been associated with a subset of CFS patients and associated with vaccines. In other words, a subset of people that are very sensitive to aluminium.
- ” Concerns linked to the use of alum particles emerged following recognition of their causative role in the so-called macrophagic myofasciitis (MMF) lesion detected in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue/syndrome. MMF revealed an unexpectedly long-lasting biopersistence of alum within immune cells in presumably susceptible individuals, stressing the previous fundamental misconception of its biodisposition. ” [2015]
- “Macrophagic myofasciitis and chronic fatigue syndrome are severely disabling conditions which may be caused by adverse reactions to aluminium-containing adjuvants in vaccines. While a little is known of disease aetiology both conditions are characterised by an aberrant immune response, have a number of prominent symptoms in common and are coincident in many individuals. Herein, we have described a case of vaccine-associated chronic fatigue syndrome and macrophagic myofasciitis in an individual demonstrating aluminium overload.” A role for the body burden of aluminium in vaccine-associated macrophagic myofasciitis andchronic fatigue syndrome [2009].
- ” The results indicate that patients had significantly increased serum aluminum and decreased iron compared to controls. ” Serum concentrations of some metals and steroids in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome with reference to neurological and cognitive abnormalities [2001].
- ” Al deposits in the macrophages, and Al assays (in μg/g, dry weight) were 768.10±18 for the patient compared with the two control patients, 5.61±0.59 and 9.13±0.057.” [2012]
Most of this work is done in France and tend to be ignored in the US (or if raised, dismissed as quackery!).
There is a nice table of the aluminum content of foods here. ” processed foods contained more aluminium than the primary products. Consequently, food was considered to be increasingly contaminated by aluminium packaging “.
Aluminum is found in consumer products including: • antacids • astringents • buffered aspirin • food additives • antiperspirants • cosmetics [cdc]
There have been no study that I could find comparing aluminum levels in general CFS patients against controls. We need such a study. If the level of aluminum increases with the duration of CFS, then it is likely that the CFS body is not able to remove the aluminum in food.
Jumping to Assumptions
Do not immediately blame a vaccine / aluminum for CFS — at least, not until laboratory tests confirm high level of aluminum (which could also come from food — especially rice), Another factor could be the water you drink ” This study suggests that phosphate restricts the entry of Al into the cell, while fluoride promotes it.” [1998] For more effects of aluminum see this paper.
There have been individual cases reports, 2008 Story, but with 5 vaccinations, the immune response to the vaccines could also be the cause. We cannot be sure.
The patient above grew up next to a recycler and that was their likely source of aluminum.
Caused of OR Caused by?
The finding that some lactobacillus are involved with the removal of aluminium combined with very low lactobacillus in CFS patients opens the possibility of aluminium building because the normal bacteria that would reduce it is not there!
This could be a compounding cycle of no bacteria -> increased aluminum –> CFS-like symptoms —> aluminum reducing other bacteria families.
We do not know — but we should be open to both views… we need appropriate studies on a large population of CFS patients to resolve this question.
Treatment?
Note we are not talking about Aluminum Toxicity, but aluminum disruption of the immune system. There is considerable evidence that it will impact certain bacteria [The bactericidal action of highly purified aluminum and certain aluminum alloys [1969]., Aluminium toxicity and binding to Escherichia coli [1991].
CFS Remission 