MadSci Network: Neuroscience
Query:

Re: what are the side effects, if any from aluminum chlorohydrate?

Date: Fri Oct 24 13:18:20 2003
Posted By: Michael Parker, Research Chemist
Area of science: Neuroscience
ID: 1062440573.Ns
Message:

Aluminum chlorohydrate is a chemical with antiperspirant properties.  It 
is found in many consumer products.  As an over-the-counter drug, aluminum 
chlorohydrate has been classified by the FDA in its safest category.  That 
doesn’t mean that there are no side effects, but just that the FDA 
considers it safe for general use.  

As far as I can tell, there is absolutely no clinical evidence suggesting 
aluminum chlorohydrate causes memory loss or causes Alzheimer’s disease or 
increases the risk of this disease. 

A brief search of the internet turns up some claims of just such a 
connection.  I am unable to determine if there is any scientific basis for 
these claims.  Most of the claims seem to be made in the advertising for 
antiperspirants that do not contain aluminum chlorohydrate – a clearly 
biased source.

There is some evidence that the element aluminum (which, not surprisingly, 
is found in aluminum chlorohydrate) is neurotoxic at high exposure 
levels.  But since a typical person’s exposure to aluminum found naturally 
in food and drinking water is higher than any exposure from the normal use 
of antiperspirants, the risk from antiperspirants appears unimportant.



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