Selenium Protects Against Cadmium Poisoning and Atherosclerosis

Cadmium leaking from iron water pipes into drinking water may be a primary cause of increased risk of atherosclerosis – the increased risk of a buildup of plaque on the inside of the artery walls with inflammation as a consequence. This is the thesis of the Danish cardiologist Anton Dorph-Petersen.

Heart attack
Cadmium from drinking water accumulates in the body and causes damage to the layer of cells lining the inside of arteries, leading to a buildup of plaque and to increased risk of atherosclerosis and heart attack. Cadmium is a heavy metal that is found everywhere in the earth. Cadmium accumulates primarily in the liver and kidneys with toxic effects on the kidneys in particular. People with insufficient selenium and iron accumulate more cadmium. Cadmium takes a long time to be eliminated from the body. Iron water pipes and cigarette smoking are significant sources of cadmium in the body.

Dr. Dorph-Petersen asserts that the danger of cadmium toxicity is greatest in regions of the world in which the selenium content of the soil and plants is low and in regions of the world in which there is low dietary intake of selenium containing fish [Dorph-Petersen 2017].

Let me lay out Dr. Dorph-Petersen’s reasoning step by step. His hypothesis has not yet been verified by clinical trials.

However, we do know from a survey of 15,689 study participants in the US that low blood selenium and high blood cadmium are independent risk factors for heart failure. read more