Toxicology of myprotein proteins

[iceman]

Protein Drinks: What our tests found, Consumer Reports

This link shows many well established protein brands actually contain a surprisingly high amount of heavy metals in their protein powder, particularly lead.

I hope the protein I buy from this website is free from contaminants!

[Maximi11ion]

How do they compare to other foods?

[NU_nutrition_TS]

From that article:

Quote

Shellfish and organ meats such as liver can be high in cadmium, and some plant foods such as potatoes, rice, sunflower seeds, spinach, and other leafy greens can also take in significant amounts of the metal from the environment, due in large part to the use of cadmium-containing phosphate fertilizers, according to Bruce A. Fowler, a researcher at the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Food and Drug Administration research suggests that foods such as milk, yogurt, eggs, poultry, and red meats are generally good protein sources that seem to contain little or no cadmium, lead, arsenic, or mercury.

The manufacturer of one of the protein shakes highlighted as containing cadmium above the recommended level responded on their website:

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A recent Consumer Reports story (July 2010 issue) raised questions about the trace levels of cadmium and arsenic found in popular protein shakes including our <deleted> shakes. We want to assure you that there is no safety risk from the trace levels of cadmium and arsenic in <deleted> protein shakes.

The Consumer Reports testing was based on consumption of three shakes per day. Our recommended up to two servings of <deleted> daily, as stated on the label, is well below the current accepted standards and below the proposed U.S. Pharmacopeia limits.

Trace levels of these elements are naturally found in the environment and in many foods we eat daily (such as shellfish, potatoes, rice, and leafy greens). We conduct extensive testing to ensure the quality of our products. Each time the shakes have been tested for elements, such as arsenic and cadmium, the results are below the limit of all current, well-established safety standards.

Since milk (from which most protein powders are derived) is said to have little or no cadmium, one has to wonder where this cadmium is coming from. One possibility is leaching from metals (such as aluminium - or chrome-plated steel plant - used in the processing) but another possibility is the inclusion of plant-based ingredients and synthetic vitamin/mineral preparations. One only has to check out the ingredients list for the product in question to realise there is more in there than a dairy-derived protein powder:

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Filtered Water, <deleted> Protein Blend (Milk Protein Concentrate, Calcium Caseinate, Whey Protein Isolate). Less than 2% of the Following: Corn Maltodextrin, Cocoa Powder (Processed with Alkali), Fructooligosaccharides, High Oleic Sunflower Oil, Vitamin & Mineral Blend (Magnesium Phosphate, Potassium Citrate, Sodium Ascorbate, Vitamin A Palmitate, Beta-Carotene, Vitamin D3, dl-Alpha-Tocopheryl Acetate, Niacinamide, Zinc Gluconate, Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Manganese Gluconate, Thiamin Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Biotin, Chromium Chloride, Potassium Iodide, Phytonadione, Sodium Molybdate, Sodium Selenite, Cyanocobalamin), Natural & Artificial Flavors, Cottonseed Fiber, Sodium Hexametaphosphate, Sucralose, and Carrageenan.

I have also highlighted cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12). This is usually synthesised from sewage sludge and at least one online source cites sewage sludge as prime source of cadmium contamination!

[Odevans]

Nu, are you serious about the sewage sludge?

Vile.

[James]

In terms of mercury and MOST heavy metals, it is worth noting that if you diet is decent (which it SHOULD be) and also full of vitamin C (and I would bet other antioxidants), and you are in healthy order, metal build up (in the bones or otherwise) is pretty much a null issue.

[Wotan]

I agree with you James.

And we are talking about America aren't we?

[NU_nutrition_TS]

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Nu, are you serious about the sewage sludge?

Vile.

Yup! That's why herbivores eat their own poop! B12 is synthesised in the gut by bacteria and most of it goes down the pan. So, collect all that poop (sewage sludge), extract the B12 and put it in a capsule!

I should point out that the report linked to in the OP was done in America on several commercial products (mainly ready-to-drink protein supplements) and none of those were MP products. If any other mod wants to remove the link (which obviously mentions the brands tested) because of rule 1A infringements, please feel free - I have left it as is for the moment.

James makes a valid point, several online sources I consulted earlier said that sufficient dietary zinc, magnesium, etc. protected against most heavy metal contamination.

[James]

It's like the whole 'two tins of tuna a week' syndrome all over again! People seem to forget guidelines are for a catch-all audience, namely, for the worst possible case(s), to cover everyones backsides :P

[Wotan]

Just as a sidenote one source of heavy metal contamination that everyone forgets are cementworks, brick-making kilns and places where pottery is fired. Clays and limestones contain heavy metal salts and these get "evaporated" off during intense heating. One notorious example in this country was (I think) in Leicestershire where the (again, if memory serves) the London Brick Company had a factory. There was a shadow of heavy metal contamination spreading for miles in the shape of the wind-borne plume of smoke from the kilns.

[iceman]

Quote

Yup! That's why herbivores eat their own poop! B12 is synthesised in the gut by bacteria and most of it goes down the pan. So, collect all that poop (sewage sludge), extract the B12 and put it in a capsule!

I should point out that the report linked to in the OP was done in America on several commercial products (mainly ready-to-drink protein supplements) and none of those were MP products. If any other mod wants to remove the link (which obviously mentions the brands tested) because of rule 1A infringements, please feel free - I have left it as is for the moment.

James makes a valid point, several online sources I consulted earlier said that sufficient dietary zinc, magnesium, etc. protected against most heavy metal contamination.

What other supplements are ideal to protect against heavy metal contamination? I am somewhat paranoid. I have 5 mercury fillings so I would love to do every possible thing.