Tao S H, Bolger P M
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration, Washington, DC 20204, USA.
Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 1997 Jun;25(3):211-9. doi: 10.1006/rtph.1997.1098.
Germanium-containing dietary supplements became popular in the 1970s in Japan and later in other countries, as elixirs for certain diseases (e.g., cancer and AIDS). Germanium is not an essential element. Its acute toxicity is low. However, at least 31 reported human cases linked prolonged intake of germanium products with renal failure and even death. Signs of kidney dysfunction, kidney tubular degeneration, and germanium accumulation were observed. Other adverse effects were anemia, muscle weakness, and peripheral neuropathy. Recovery of renal function is slow and incomplete even long after germanium intake was stopped. The total dose of ingested germanium (as dioxide, carboxyethyl germanium sesquioxide, germanium-lactate-citrate, or unspecified forms) varied from 15 to over 300 g; the exposure duration varied from 2 to 36 months. In laboratory animals, elevated germanium in tissues and impaired kidney and liver function were observed in a life-time drinking water (5 ppm germanium) study. Other toxicities associated with ingested germanium products in human cases were also demonstrated in animal studies with germanium dioxide and sometimes other germanium compounds. Based on the evidence of persistent renal toxicity associated with germanium dioxide, the lack of conclusive findings of differential nephrotoxicity of organic germanium compounds, and the possibility of contamination of the organic germanium products with inorganic germanium, it is clear that germanium products present a potential human health hazard.
含锗膳食补充剂在20世纪70年代的日本开始流行，后来在其他国家也受到欢迎，被视为治疗某些疾病（如癌症和艾滋病）的万灵药。锗并非必需元素。其急性毒性较低。然而，至少有31例报告的人类病例将长期摄入锗产品与肾衰竭甚至死亡联系起来。观察到肾功能障碍、肾小管变性和锗蓄积的迹象。其他不良反应包括贫血、肌肉无力和周围神经病变。即使在停止摄入锗很长时间后，肾功能的恢复也缓慢且不完全。摄入的锗总量（以二氧化锗、羧乙基锗倍半氧化物、锗乳酸柠檬酸盐或未指明的形式）从15克到超过300克不等；接触时间从2个月到36个月不等。在一项终身饮用水（含5 ppm锗）研究中，实验动物体内组织中的锗含量升高，肾脏和肝脏功能受损。在二氧化锗以及有时其他锗化合物的动物研究中，也证实了人类病例中与摄入锗产品相关的其他毒性。基于与二氧化锗相关的持续性肾毒性证据、有机锗化合物差异肾毒性的结论性发现不足以及有机锗产品被无机锗污染的可能性，可以明确锗产品对人类健康存在潜在危害。
