Clinical Evaluation of a Defined Zeolite-Clinoptilolite Supplementation Effect on the Selected Blood Parameters of Patients.

The natural clinoptilolite material is an inorganic crystal mineral called zeolite. It has been extensively studied and used in industrial applications and veterinary and human medicine due to positive effects on health. Limited data is available in the scientific literature about its effects on the levels of physiologically relevant minerals in the human organism. Accordingly, we performed a comprehensive and controlled monitoring of the relevant mineral and contaminants levels in human subjects supplemented with a certified clinoptilolite material within three clinical trials with different supplementation regimens. Effects of a registered and certified clinoptilolite material PMA-zeolite on selected mineral and metal levels were determined by standard biochemical methods and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in the blood of subjects enrolled in three clinical trials: short-term (28 days, Mineral Metabolism and selected Blood Parameters study MMBP), medium-term (12 weeks, Morbus Crohn study), and long-term (4 years, Osteoporosis TOP study) supplementation. Lower concentrations were observed for copper (Cu) in patients with osteoporosis, which normalized again in the long-term supplementation trial, whereas sodium (Na) and calcium (Ca) levels diminished below the reference values in patients with osteoporosis. In the short- and long-term supplementation trials, increased levels of lead (Pb) were observed in PMA-zeolite-supplemented subjects, which decreased in the continued long-term supplementation trial. Increased levels of aluminum (Al) or Pb attributable to eventual leakage from the material into the bloodstream were not detected 1 h after intake in the short-term supplementation trial. Nickel (Ni) and Al were statistically significantly decreased upon long-term 4-year supplementation within the long-term supplementation trial, and arsenic (As) was statistically significantly decreased upon 12-weeks supplementation in the medium-term trial. Alterations in the measured levels for Na and Ca, as well as for Pb, in the long-term trial are probably attributable to the bone remodeling process. Checking the balance of the minerals Cu, Ca, and Na after 1 year of supplementation might be prescribed for PMA-supplemented patients with osteoporosis. Clinical Trial Registration: [https://clinicaltrials.gov], identifiers [NCT03901989, NCT05178719, NCT04370535, NCT04607018].

Unexpected abnormal coagulation test results in a 2-year-old child: A case report.

Rejection of the sample with repeated blood withdrawal is always an unwanted consequence of sample nonconformity and preanalytical errors, especially in the most vulnerable population - children. Here is presented a case with unexpected abnormal coagulation test results in a 2-year-old child with no previously documented coagulation disorder. Child is planned for tympanostomy tubes removal under the anaesthesia driven procedure, and preoperative coagulation tests revealed prolonged prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time and thrombin time, with fibrinogen and antithrombin within reference intervals. From the anamnestic and clinical data, congenital coagulation disorder was excluded, and with further investigation, sample mismatch, clot presence and accidental ingestion of oral anticoagulant, heparin contamination or vitamin K deficiency were excluded too. Due to suspected EDTA carryover during blood sampling another sample was taken the same day and all tests were performed again. The results for all tests were within reference intervals confirming EDTA effect on falsely prolongation of the coagulation times in the first sample. This case can serve as alert to avoid unnecessary loss in terms of blood withdrawal repetitions and discomfort of the patients and their relatives, tests repeating, prolonging medical procedures, and probably delaying diagnosis or proper medical treatment. It is the responsibility of the laboratory specialists to continuously educate laboratory staff and other phlebotomists on the correct blood collection as well as on its importance for the patient's safety.

Critical Review on Zeolite Clinoptilolite Safety and Medical Applications in vivo.

Unique and outstanding physical and chemical properties of zeolite materials make them extremely useful in a variety of applications including agronomy, ecology, manufacturing, and industrial processes. Recently, a more specific application of one naturally occurring zeolite material, clinoptilolite, has been widely studied in veterinary and human medicine. Due to a number of positive effects on health, including detoxification properties, the usage of clinoptilolite-based products in vivo has increased enormously. However, concerns have been raised in the public about the safety of clinoptilolite materials for in vivo applications. Here, we review the scientific literature on the health effects and safety in medical applications of different clinoptilolite-based materials and propose some comprehensive, scientifically-based hypotheses on possible biological mechanisms underlying the observed effects on the health and body homeostasis. We focus on the safety of the clinoptilolite material and the positive medical effects related to detoxification, immune response, and the general health status.