About Herbs, Botanicals & Other Products

Scientific Name
Hydrated alkali aluminum silicate
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Common Name

Clinoptilolite, Erionite, Phillipsite, and Mordenite

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Brand Name

As used in dietary supplements: Natural Cellular Defense (Waiora), ZETOX (Global Health Products), and Vulkansandkuren

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Clinical Summary

Zeolites are a group of chemically related mineral substances that contain mainly hydrated aluminium and silicon compounds. They occur naturally in volcanic rock and ashes. Synthetic forms are available for industrial uses. They are also used as additives in animal feed. Zeolites have a fine porous cage-like structure and are often used as adsorbents, desiccants, detergents, and as water and air purifiers. They are applied in medicine as an external hemostatic dressing (2) (3), for diarrhea (4), diabetes (5) and as suspending agents (6). The effect of zeolites for autism is under investigation (7). Zeolites have been marketed as dietary supplements for hangover (8) and as adjuvant therapy for cancers (9). It is unclear if they are absorbed in the intestine or if they have any systemic effects. Since zeolites have chelating properties and may increase the pH in the gastrointestinal tract, they can potentially interact with many prescription drugs when consumed together. Exposure to airborne zeolite dust has been associated with high incidence of malignant mesothelioma (10) (11). Due to lack of data supporting its efficacy and safety, the use of zeolites as antitumor supplements is not recommended.

Special Point: A company has filed a U.S. patent application on using a form of synthesized zeolite as a cancer drug (21). Data submitted were based on in vitro, plant, and animal studies. The patent specified that the substance must be injected directly into the tumor. This rules out any benefits by oral route.The company cited financial reasons and decided to market the product as a dietary supplement. Zeolites have never been studied as cancer drugs in humans.

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Purported Uses
  • Treatment of diarrhea
  • Anticancer therapy
  • Antioxidant
  • Immunoenhancer
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Constituents

Natural or synthetic microporous crystals of hydrated aluminium, silicon, and sodium compounds. Some zeolites also contain calcium and magnesium (1).

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Mechanism of Action

Zeolites have ion-exchanging and adsorption properties. Zeolite granules, when used externally on wounds, can stop bleeding and promote clotting through the absorption of water (2) (3). Zeolites are thought to adsorb pathogenic microbials, glucose, and alcohol in the stomach and intestine and have been proposed for use in diarrhea (4), diabetes (5), and hangover (8) . Due to their alkaline nature, zeolites have pH buffering effects. They can adsorb nitrosamines in acidic solution (12) leading to claims that they can also be used as anticancer treatment by removing carcinogenic substances in the stomach. However, such effects have not been substantiated in humans. A few in vitro studies indicate that micronized zeolite inhibited protein kinase B; and induced expression of tumor suppressor proteins (9). In animal studies, micronized zeolite product was shown to reduce metastasis and increase the effect of doxorubicin due to its antioxidant property (13). It also increased peritoneal macrophages after intraperitoneal application and stimulate graft-versus-host reaction (14). Precise mechanisms of action remain largely unknown. Micronized zeolite can affect brain serotonergic receptors activities of mammary carcinoma bearing mice (15). However, the clinical implication of this effect in humans is unclear. Zeolite supplementation did not prolong survival in tumor-bearing animals (16). Zeolites may have both immunosuppressing and immunostimulating effects. In animal studies, they caused decline of GM-CFU in the bone marrow (16) but increase graft-versus-host (GvH) reaction (14). Zeolite products have other benefits when used in animal feed: they increase mineral utilization (17), reduce heavy metals induced anemia (18) and reduce aflatoxin toxicity (19). None of these benefits are applicable to humans.

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Pharmacokinetics

AbsorptionZeolites have stable structures and are not broken down in the gastrointestinal tract when taken orally. In animal studies using silicon and aluminium as markers, zeolites were shown to be poorly absorbed following oral administration. The amount of aluminum detected in the plasma was less than 0.1% of IV infusion(1). It is unclear if the dosage used in zeolite supplements would have any systemic effects.
Distribution
Unknown
Metabolism/Excretion
Unknown

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Warnings
  • Zeolites are carcinogenic when inhaled
  • Vulkansandkuren, a zeolite product marketed in Europe, was found to contain high levels of heavy metals including arsenic, lead, mercury, cadmium, nickel, copper, and chromium (20).
  • Do not apply liquid zeolite directly into the eyes or ears.
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Adverse Reactions
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis (22)
  • Pneumoconiosis
  • Mesothelioma - a high incidence has been demonstrated in humans exposed to zeolite dust (23).
  • Zeolite particles produced statistically significant increases in percentage of aberrant metaphase in human peripheral blood lymphocytes and in cells collected by peritoneal lavage from exposed mice (1).
  • In animal studies, zeolites were shown to cause leukocytosis but also a decline of GM-CFU in the bone marrow and inhibition of myelopoiesis (16). Zeolites also provokes graft-versus-host (GvH) reaction in mice (14).
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Herb-Drug Interactions
  • Since zeolites have chelating and ion-exchanging effects, they can potentially bind to tetracycline derivatives, quinolones, and iron resulting in decreased bioavailability.
  • Zeolites have also been shown to adsorb aspirin, theophylline, propanolol, and phenobarbital in vitro (4).
  • Zeolites may have antioxidant effects and can potentially interfere with the actions of some chemotherapy drugs.
  • Zeolites may also provoke graft versus host reaction (14) therefore, they should not be used with other immunosuppressant drugs or in transplant patients.
  • Because zeolites have buffering effect and can increase the pH of the stomach, premature disintegration of enteric coated medications may occur when used concomitantly.
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Herb Lab Interactions

In animal studies, oral supplementation of zeolites increased serum potassium level by 20% (16).

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Literature Summary and Critique

There are no published studies investigating the purported antitumor effect of zeolite in humans. Large prospective studies have demonstrated that inhalation exposure to zeolite is carcinogenic and responsible for a well-described epidemic of malignant mesothelioma in Turkey.

Case Report
The well-documented epidemic of mesothelioma (50% of deaths caused by malignant mesothelioma) in the Cappadocian (Turkey) villages of Tuzkoy, Karain, and Sarihidir, has been attributed to erionite exposure, a type of fibrous zeolite mineral commonly found in this area of Turkey. A prospective case-control study of residents of two exposed and one nearby control village conducted from 1979-2003 involving 891 men and women showed that 44.5% of all deaths (372) in the exposed villages were due to mesothelioma; only 2 cases of mesothelioma occurred in the control village (11).

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References
  1. Elmore AR. Final report on the safety assessment of aluminum silicate, calcium silicate, magnesium aluminum silicate, magnesium silicate, magnesium trisilicate, sodium magnesium silicate, zirconium silicate, attapulgite, bentonite, Fuller's earth, hectorite, kaolin, lithium magnesium silicate, lithium magnesium sodium silicate, montmorillonite, pyrophyllite, and zeolite. Int J Toxicol 2003; 22 Suppl 1:37-102.
  2. Ahuja N, Ostomel TA, Rhee P, et al. Testing of modified zeolite hemostatic dressings in a large animal model of lethal groin injury. The Journal of trauma 2006; 61(6):1312-20.
  3. Alam HB, Chen Z, Jaskille A, et al. Application of a zeolite hemostatic agent achieves 100% survival in a lethal model of complex groin injury in Swine. The Journal of trauma 2004; 56(5):974-83.
  4. G. Rodriguez-Fuentes MM, A. Iraizoz, I, Perdomo, B. Cedre. Enterex: Anti-diarrheic drug based on purified natural clinoptilolite. Zeolites 1997;19:441-8.
  5. Concepcion-Rosebal B, Rodriges-Fluentes, G., Simon-Carballo, R. Development and featuring of the zeolitic active principle FZ: a glucose adsorbent. Zeolites 1997;19(1):47.
  6. Young SW, Qing F, Rubin D, et al. Gadolinium zeolite as an oral contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging. J Magn Reson Imaging 1995; 5(5):499-508.
  7. Zeolite Austism Study 2007 http://www.zeoliteautismstudy.com. Accessed August 18, 2009.
  8. Reuters. A New Cure for Hangover. CBS News 2002. (accessed July 24, 2008)
  9. Pavelic K, Hadzija M, Bedrica L, et al. Natural zeolite clinoptilolite: new adjuvant in anticancer therapy. J Mol Med 2001; 78(12):708-20.
  10. Sahin AA, Coplu L, Selcuk ZT, et al. Malignant pleural mesothelioma caused by environmental exposure to asbestos or erionite in rural Turkey: CT findings in 84 patients. Am J Roentgenol 1993; 161(3):533-7.
  11. Baris YI, Grandjean P. Prospective study of mesothelioma mortality in Turkish villages with exposure to fibrous zeolite. J Natl Cancer Inst 2006; 98(6):414-7.
  12. Zhou CF, Zhu JH. Adsorption of nitrosamines in acidic solution by zeolites. Chemosphere 2005 58(1):109-14.
  13. Zarkovic N, Zarkovic K, Kralj M, et al. Anticancer and antioxidative effects of micronized zeolite clinoptilolite. Anticancer Res 2003 23(2B):1589-95.
  14. Pavelic K, Katic M, Sverko V, et al. Immunostimulatory effect of natural clinoptilolite as a possible mechanism of its antimetastatic ability. Journal of cancer research and clinical oncology 2002;128(1):37-44.
  15. Muck-Seler D, Pivac N. The effect of natural clinoptilolite on the serotonergic receptors in the brain of mice with mammary carcinoma. Life sciences 2003 Sep 5;73(16):2059-69.
  16. Martin-Kleiner I, Flegar-Mestric Z, et al. The effect of the zeolite clinoptilolite on serum chemistry and hematopoiesis in mice. Food Chem Toxicol 2001; 39(7):717-27.
  17. Watkins KL, Southern LL. Effect of dietary sodium zeolite A on zinc utilization by chicks. Poultry science 1993; 72(2):296-305.
  18. Pond WG, Yen JT. Protection by clinoptilolite or zeolite NaA against cadmium-induced anemia in growing swine. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 1983; 173(3):332-7.
  19. Kubena LF, Harvey RB, Huff WE, et al. Efficacy of a hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate to reduce the toxicity of aflatoxin and diacetoxyscirpenol. Poultry science 1993; 72(1):51-9.
  20. Eriksson I. Body Detox of Volcanic Ash Cause Cancer. Medical News Today 2004. (accessed July 24, 2008)
  21. Kaufman H, inventor; Lifelink Pharmaceuticals Inc, assignee. Epithelial Cell Cancer Drug. US Patent 6,288,045. September 11, 2001. Accessed August 18, 2009.
  22. Kliment CR, Clemens K, Oury TD. North american erionite-associated mesothelioma with pleural plaques and pulmonary fibrosis: a case report. Int J Clin Exp Pathol. 2009;2(4):407-10.
  23. Metintas M, Hillerdal G, Metintas S, Dumortier P. Endemic malignant mesothelioma: exposure to erionite is more important than genetic factors. Arch Environ Occup Health. 2010 Apr-Jun;65(2):86-93.
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How It Works

Bottom Line: Zeolites have not been shown to treat cancer in humans.

Zeolites are minerals that contain mainly aluminium and silicon compounds combined with water molecules. They are used as drying agents, detergents, and as water and air purifiers. Zeolites have been marketed as dietary supplements for hangover and for cancer treatment. Since they bind with other substances and may also neutralize stomach acid, they can interfere with many drugs when used together. When inhaled, Zeolite dust can cause certain type of lung cancer. There is no published human data to support the use of Zeolites for cancer treatment.

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Purported Uses
  • Treatment of diarrhea
    A drug containing zeolite was developed for diarrhea in Cuba
  • Anticancer therapy
    In vitro and animal studies suggest anticancer properties, but there is no clinical data to validate use of Zeolites for cancer.
  • Antioxidant
    Animal studies showed that Zeolites may have antioxidant properties
  • Immunoenhancer
    Data from animal studies demonstrated that zeolites can both stimulate and suppress the immune system
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Research Evidence

Case ReportThis study was done between 1979-2003 and involved 891 men and women from three villages in Turkey, two of which had high levels of erionite, a type of Zeolite. Data showed that during this period, 372 individuals from the two villages died due to mesothelioma, a cancer caused by exposure to zeolites and related substances. Only two cases of mesothelioma were reported from the third village.

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Patient Warnings
  • When inhaled, natural Zeolites can cause cancer. There is no evidence that other forms of zeolite cause cancer.
  • Vulkansandkuren, a zeolite product marketed in Europe, was found to contain high levels of heavy metals including arsenic, lead, mercury, cadmium, nickel, copper, and chromium.
  • Do not apply liquid zeolite directly into the eyes or ears.
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Do Not Take If
  • You are taking tetracycline, quinolones, iron, aspirin, theophylline, propanolol, and phenobarbital because zeolites can bind to them and decrease their absorption, making them less effective.
  • You are a transplant patient and/or taking immunesuppressant drugs, as zeolites may cause rejection.
  • You are using chemotherapy drugs, because zeolites have antioxidant effects and may interfere with the actions of chemo drugs.
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Side Effects
  • Fibrosis (increase in fibrous tissue)
  • Pneumoconiosis (respiratory disease)
  • Mesothelioma (Exposure to zeolite dust is associated with high incidence of mesothelioma, a tumor affecting the lining of the chest or abdomen).
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Special Point

A company has filed a U.S. patent application on using a form of man-made zeolite as a cancer drug. Data submitted were based on lab, plant, and animal studies. The patent filing said the substance must be injected directly into the tumor. This means it has no benefits if taken by mouth. Since it will cost too much money to develop the product as a drug so the company decided to sell it as a dietary supplement. Zeolites have not been studied as a cancer drug in human clinical trials.

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Dosage (Inside MSKCC Only)
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Last updated: March 18, 2011