Posted on 04/15/2025 8:39:15 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
Researchers studying the health risks posed by gadolinium, a toxic rare earth metal used in MRI scans, have found that oxalic acid, a molecule found in many foods, can generate nanoparticles of the metal in human tissues.
In a new paper, Brent Wagner, MD sought to explain the formation of the nanoparticles, which have been associated with serious health problems in the kidneys and other organs.
"The worst disease caused by MRI contrast agents is nephrogenic systemic fibrosis," he said. "People have succumbed after just a single dose." The condition can cause a thickening and hardening of the skin, heart and lungs and cause painful contracture of the joints.
Gadolinium-based contrast agents are injected prior to MRI scans to help create sharper images, Wagner said.
Scientists are left with intertwined puzzles: Why do some people get sick, when most don't, and how do gadolinium particles become pried loose from the other molecules in the contrast agent?
In their study, Wagner's team focused on oxalic acid, which is found in many plant-based foods, including spinach, rhubarb, most nuts and berries and chocolate, because it binds with metal ions. The process helps lead to the formation of kidney stones, which result when oxalate binds with calcium. Meanwhile, oxalic acid also forms in the body when people eat foods or supplements containing vitamin C.
In test tube experiments the researchers found that oxalic acid caused minute amounts of gadolinium to precipitate out of the contrast agent and form nanoparticles, which then infiltrated the cells of various organs.
The finding points to a possible way to mitigate some of the risks associated with MRI scan, he said.
"I wouldn't take vitamin C if I needed to have an MRI with contrast because of the reactivity of the metal," Wagner said.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
Consider neutralizing the acid.
Many use Sodium Bicarbonate, (Baking Soda)
or if minimizing Sodium, use Potassium Bicarbonate.
The acidity issue was warned about in the book “Life Extension” by Pearson and Shaw over 40 years ago.
Thanks for all the great info! I don’t know if I’ll ever have another MRI w/contrast, but a little knowledge can be most helpful.
Thanks, CM, tired and retired, dennisw!
A relative needed a contrast CT and I got the CT tech to get a warmer. CT contrast viscosity goes down by 50% when heated to body temperature first.
There are multiple agents to choose from. This hospital had three options. I was able to have my relative select the best of the three.
People don't have “allergic” reactions to iodinated contrast. They suffer micro tears throughout their bodies from the sheer viscosity issue.
A similar issue happens with cars in winter. The oil is very cold and thick until warmed up. You should not force your engine to run fast when first started because the oil isn't lubricating the engine properly.
CT contrast, not warmed to body temperature, is just like forcing high engine RPMs on a cold engine in winter, except our tissue is much more delicate than steel.
That's a personal choice.
I did, after I had an ESWL procedure. I had another surgery to retrieve stones about 9 months after that also. I'd say by far that was the worst recovery I've dealt with (both times). I believe the article you linked was one of several I had read. There was another that also showed calcium supplements were not associated with higher risk of kidney stone generation, even though in women it was noted more was seen in the waste stream among that cohort.
Hives. Hmm. Allergic reaction hives? To what, gadolinium?
Received you any answers?
ProHance is the likely best MRI choice for use. It locks down the gadolinium pretty well, compared with other gadolinium agents.
From a prior post:
“Best Practices in the Use of Iodinated Contrast Media in the Clinical Setting: What the Pharmacist Needs to Know” (February 2016)
https://ashpadvantagemedia.com/contrastmedia/files/handout-contrastmedia.pdf
This shows which iodinated contrasts are best and the effect of warming on them.
Unfortunately, pharmacists don’t know this or don’t pass it on to the CT Techs.
It is up to us to do so.
I would expect that your illness was the root cause of the symptoms you describe and not the procedure, especially since there was no contrast.
Basically, a CT scan is an X-ray that uses computed technology for enhancrment. Think of it as an X-ray with AI. Unlike an MRI that uses magnetic resonance imaging that uses radio waves to measure magnetic fields.
The problem with MRI’s is gadolinium toxicity. CT scans do both give good results in the brain, so an MRI is commonly used for brain tumors.
I find this article very interesting as I had a client with two brain tumors along with extensive lung cancer. His alternative care practitioner gave him IV vitamin C for the cancer and the gadolinium toxicity killed him. High doses of vitamin C for cancer was a treatment promoted by
Linus Pauling in the 1970s, a double Nobel laureate and self-proclaimed champion of vitamin C who promoted daily megadoses.
“People don’t have “allergic” reactions to iodinated contrast. They suffer micro tears throughout their bodies from the sheer viscosity issue.”
One time I had a reaction to the CT contrast when I had colon cancer. It was very mild and I made the mistake of telling the radiologist and it got in my file.
The next time they gave me an epinephrine shot and I didn’t sleep for two days. I was hyper with anxiety the entire two days.
It took just short of an act of God to get the allergic reaction to contrast, which is just a type of iodine, off my record. I actually got dressed and walked out of a CT procedure when the insisted on giving me the epinephrine shot.
In hindsight, years later I realize that I had high histamines in my body that caused my veins to be permeable. That caused the minor reaction to the contrast, and was the root cause of the colon cancer and ten years later, lung cancer.
bkmk
I recently had an MRI but no contrast. Chuck Norris’s wife almost died from that stuff.
Thank you. I was just paying it forward yesterday.
Your posts are so helpful. Thank you again.
I think your comment was inteneded for someone else?
The time I had contrast dye that rushed to my crotch that affected my penis was found very shortly after. I had an ultrasound after that, 10 pictures of my penis and 20 each for my testes. They were obviously making sure those were not compromised.
Good post here today, we learn as we go.
This seems to be exactly what this study found out.
I didn’t know why he died until you posted this article.
Thank you again for the many great articles you post. I really appreciate them.
🙏🙏🙏
Has nothing to do with MRI. MRI contrast is Gad. Gadolinium is not mention in the linked item.
I do see the response you made was to a off topic (not specifically OP article related) comment, so I apologize.
Not a problem.
I keep the best information I can find for whatever pops up. There are best approaches for both CT and MRI contrast.
Pick ProHance for MRI contrast.
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