ALUMINUM ABSORPTION IN INFANCY

The use of aluminium-containing medications and aluminium contamination of infant formulae is common. We aimed to determine whether aluminium absorption occurs after antacid ingestion. Plasma and urinary levels of aluminium were measured before and after antacid therapy in seven infants whose mean gestational age was 36 +/- 2 weeks and postnatal age 11 +/- 5 days. Antacid therapy (400-800-mu-mol aluminium) was given with feeds for 2 days. Plasma aluminium levels increased and reached toxic levels (0.64 +/- 0.33-mu-mol/L vs 3.48 +/- 2.86-mu-mol/L, P = 0.029). Urinary aluminium: creatinine ratio also increased. These results demonstrate that infants absorb aluminium from antacids and raise the concern of aluminium toxicity.