Cadmium

Category: toxic_elements

Information Sheet

What It Is

Cadmium is a heavy metal and Group 1 carcinogen (smoking, industrial/dietary exposure) that accumulates in kidney and bone. Elevated in the autism plasma-metal study.

Mechanism & Notes

• Displaces zinc in zinc-dependent enzymes/transcription factors and induces metallothionein; drives oxidative stress
• Group 1 carcinogen; long biological half-life (decades) in the body

Mentions

VVergani L et al. (Res Autism Spectr Disord 2011)view source ↗

Vergani et al. 2011, 'Metals, metallothioneins and oxidative stress in blood of autistic children' (Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders). Case-control plasma study (ICP-AES, ng metal/g plasma) — the source of the box-plot figure shared by @BioavailableNd. Seven elements significantly higher in autistic children (Zn, Ca, Fe, As, Ni, Cd, Si). Largest elevations: ARSENIC (~6x) and IRON (~5x); cadmium and zinc clearly raised. NICKEL only marginally higher (~3 ng/g in both groups) — does NOT support the '30-fold nickel' claim. Also raised metallothionein mRNA and SOD, lower catalase. Association, not causation; small single Italian cohort.

Compounds: nickel, arsenic, cadmium, iron, zinc