US health researchers said Thursday that they have documented lead
poisoning risks among pregnant women who took Ayurvedic medicine and issued a
new warning on the safety of traditional pills.
New York City health authorities probed six cases since last year of
women -- all but one born in India -- found to be at high risk of lead
poisoning due to Ayurvedic medicine, the US Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention said.
Ayurveda, or long-life science, is a system of traditional medicine
developed over thousands of years in India. The pills -- none made in the
United States -- are occasionally contaminated during manufacturing but some
are "rasa shastra," the Indian practice of intentionally adding
metals, minerals or gems to medicine.
The medicines are advertised as helping with pregnancy and at least one
boasted that it would boost the chances of having a boy instead of a girl, said
the report by the US government health organization. While the six women have
not shown symptoms, authorities found them to be at high risk of lead
poisoning, which can damage the brain, kidneys and nervous and reproductive
systems.
"Pregnant women present a unique concern, because lead exposure can
adversely affect the health of both mother and child. Fetal lead exposure
increases the risks for low birth weight, developmental delay, reduced
intelligence and behavioral problems," it said. The products contained up
to 2.4 percent lead and some also contained mercury and arsenic, which are also
considered dangerous for consumption.
The US Food and Drug Administration warned in 2008 to use caution when
taking Ayurvedic medicines -- especially those sold over the Internet -- as
they are generally not approved by regulators.
The researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said
that health care providers should ask patients about their use of foreign-made
medicine and consider administering tests for metal exposure. "The cases
of lead poisoning among the six pregnant women underscore the importance of
risk assessment for lead exposure and blood lead testing in at-risk
populations," the report said.
Yahoo News UK
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