Occupational Medicine Advance Access originally published online on October 17, 2006
Occupational Medicine 2007 57(2):137-140; doi:10.1093/occmed/kql104
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Short Reports |
University of Toronto casecontrol study of multiple chemical sensitivity-3: intra-erythrocytic mineral levels
1 Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2 Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
3 Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Background Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) has an estimated American prevalence of 15%, and no consistently abnormal laboratory tests are available to assist in its diagnosis. Some physicians treating MCS patients have observed changes in intra-erythrocytic minerals (IEMs). As co-factors, minerals could influence detoxication of xenobiotics.
Aim To test whether IEM differed comparing MCS cases with controls.
Methods A total of 408 women meeting validated inclusion and exclusion criteria for MCS participated in this casecontrol study.
Results No statistically significant differences were observed. However, for copper, chromium, magnesium, molybdenum, sulphur and zinc, mean detectable levels were all lower in cases. No doseresponse relationships were found.
Conclusion IEM measurements do not appear to provide useful diagnostic markers for MCS.
Keywords Chemical intolerance; environmental intolerance; hypersensitivity; MCS; minerals
Correspondence to: Cornelia J. Baines, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, Toronto, M5T 3M7, Canada. Tel: +1 416 978 7519; fax: +1 416 978 1490; e-mail: cornelia.baines{at}utoronto.ca