Aluminium uptake from some foods by guinea pigs and the characterization of aluminium in in vivo intestinal digesta by SEC-ICP-MS.

The uptake of ingested aluminium (Al) from food items commonly consumed in a normal human diet was investigated by feeding five test diets to guinea pigs. Al concentrations were measured in the femur, brain, kidney and upper intestinal contents. Consumption of these diets did not lead to elevated Al levels in brain. Levels of Al in the bone were elevated in animals fed sponge cake with a permitted Al-containing additive, and the presence of citrate as orange juice enhanced bone deposition and increased kidney Al levels. Less than 1% of Al in the upper intestinal contents was found in the soluble fraction, and characterization by SEC-ICP-MS indicated that this Al was not present as Al-citrate.