Aluminium is the third most abundant element in the earth's crust. The main sources of aluminium in our diet include tea, beer, baked products, drinking water, toothpaste, aluminium-based antacids, aluminium cookware and some canned beverages. The average daily intake of aluminium from food by UK adults is estimated as 3.9mg which is well below internationally recognised safe limits.
Absorption increases significantly in the presence of acidic foods such as orange juice.
The small amount of aluminium that is absorbed into the body is rapidly excreted by the kidneys in urine except in individuals with impaired kidney function where aluminium retention within the body is responsible for dialysis dementia. Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative condition resulting in dementia, occurring mainly in the elderly. The proposed link between dietary aluminium intake and Alzheimer's Disease is still the subject of considerable debate. No causal relationship has been established, and accumulation of aluminium in the brain may be a natural part of the disease process. Recent studies have reported the identification of various genes associated with the disease, suggesting that sufferers may have a genetic predisposition to the condition.