BE OUR GUEST: NEW PERSPECTIVE ON THE PROBLEM OF LEAD IN CHILDREN, AS WELL AS IN ADULTS

David A. Keiper is a resident of Cape Girardeau. He is a graduate of Cornell University with a degree in engineering physics. Most of his career was spent in research and consulting. Since 1977 his interest has been on the relationships between nutrition and heart disease. He is author of the book, "How To Keep Your Bad Habits ... And Still Avoid Flame-Out."

We thank the Southeast M~issourian for making us aware of the extent of the problem of lead poisoning in M~issouri children (Feb. 22, 1993). Parents may not realize it, but there is much they can do on their own, at little expense, to keep lead out of their children. ~In fact, rather than wait for an expensive, but relatively ineffective, government bureaucracy to address the problem, it would be better for parents to start a grassroots movement to get lead out of their children.

While there is no way that we can totally eliminate lead from our modern environment, there are little publicized, but very effective, nutritional means of preventing the human body from absorbing lead from the environment. ~~With stronger nutritional measures, it is even possible to cure lead poisoning. These are inexpensive measures that parents can easily take at home to protect their children (and themselves).

Parents need to know that there are some important connections between the nutrition one is getting, and one's resistance to absorbing lead from the environment. For instance, lead absorption by one's body is reduced by obtaining adequate amounts of the nutritional minerals calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron and selenium. Vitamins, such as C and E, also help reduce lead absorption. The amino acid methionine, which is rich in eggs, also helps clear lead from the body.

The N~~ational ~Research Council recommends an intake of calcium of ~800 mg/day for children aged 1 to 10. An intake less than that will activate a special absorption mechanism in the gut, by which a greater proportion of dietary calcium is absorbed. That was M~other N~ature's way of protecting us from bad effects of low calcium intake. Unfortunately, the special mechanism in the gut is blind as to whether it is promoting calcium or lead absorption. In the primitive environment, there was negligible lead, so that the special absorption mechanism was all benefit.

As to the best calcium sources for children, it is probably a combination of milk, cheese, yogurt, and supplements containing either oyster shell or egg shell calcium. ~Bone meal or dolomite supplements sometimes contain lead, so should be avoided. There are even some possible problems with milk. Two researchers (Philip Bushnell and H~ector DeLuca) found that milk sugar promotes the intestinal absorption of lead in baby rats. ~Because there is much less milk sugar in cheese or yogurt, these may be the best sources of calcium (an~d protei~n). Even better than taking calcium supplements, would be taking a multimineral supplement pill which ~would also contain magnesium, zinc, iron and selenium. Thus children can get all the minerals which prevent lead absorption. I should also mention that whole foods contain more of these minerals than refined foods (white flour/bread, white rice, degerminated corn meal).

Concern~ing v~itamin C,~ the Natio~nal Research Council recommends a~ daily intake of 40 mg/day for children ages 1 to 10. ~~While that level of intake will prevent scurvy, it is not likely to prevent the absorption of lead from the environment. A generous intake of vitamin C~ is advised if there is any suspicion of lead problems in a child. In fact, physicians who practice nutritional therapy, of which there appear to be none in the ~Cape area, use high doses of vitamin C. They will gi~~ve children (or adults) ~~~with lead problems a dose close to the bowel tolerance. ~By bowel tolerance is meant the dose at which vitamin C~~ causes gas or diarrhea. The bowel tolerance level will vary from~ time~ to time in one individual. A child sick with lead poisonin~g mig~ht have a bo~wel tolerance over 5,000 mg/day, whereas the same child well might only tolerate 1,000~ mg/day. ~The form of vitamin C ~is also important. Vit~amin C in th~e usual ascorbic acid form is apt to cause stomach upset in sizable doses, because of the acidity. ~Best are the soluble crystals of calcium ascorbate, which have no acidity. That is available by mail order from certain vitamin supply houses.

How~ does a parent estimate whether or not children have a lead problem? The most commo~n symptoms of lead problems are headache, fatigue, digestive upset an~d nervousness~. U~nfortunately~, thos~e symptoms are not specific to lead problems. Behavioral problems, poor development, and poor appetite are also sug~~gestiv~e of a~ lead problem. Symptoms tend to come~ on ~gradually over time. ~Dark circles under the eyes sometimes~ suggest ~a lead problem, but may also be from an allergy problem.

Because there may be no ~symptoms while a child is accumulating lead in growing~~ bones, it is w~orthwh~il~e to make a guess whethe~r the child have been exposed. If you live near a heavily travelled street or highway, your children may have gotten a dose of lead from tetraethyl lead in gasoline. Althoug~h all gasol~ine is now~ unleaded, there is ~still lead in t~he soil near heavily travelled roads, but at least the air is relatively lead free. If you live in a house built before the 196~0s, there is most likely to be l~ead in the earlier coats of paint. There is no hazard from leaded paint which has been covered over with latex~ paints, as long a~s the paint is not chipping off. ~~During remodeling, one has to he c~areful about sanding dust, which could contain significant lead from the old paints. ~Children should not play in the soil right next to a~n older painted house. N~or should vegetables be grown ~or berries or fruits eaten where the soil has been contaminated. If you suspect your children have been expos~ed to lead, get them tested.

Parents, take charge! The future of your children is at stake.