Germanium
Requirements:
Supplement Forms:
Organic (although synthesized):
Ge-132 (sesquioxide)
Spirogermanium
Food Sources:
- Beans
- Chlorella
- Garlic
- Ginseng
- Shiitake mushrooms
- Tuna
- Vegetables
- Water chestnut
- Wheat bran
Signs and Symptoms of Deficiency:
- Animal studies: altered bone and liver mineral composition and
decreased tibial DNS
- Very limited data
Causes of Deficiency:
- Due to limited data, causes of germanium deficiency are
unknown
Adverse Reactions and Toxicity:
- Inorganic form may cause kidney failure
- Loose stools
- Skin irritations
Drug/Nutrient Interaction:
- Due to limited data, germanium drug/nutrient interaction is
unknown
Biochemical Functions:
- Excellent semiconductor
- Involved with thyroid hormone functioning
- Thought to facilitate electron flow to oxygen
- Thought to be a good antioxidant
Clinical Indications:
- Immunity
- Some organic germanium compounds may possess antitumor
properties
Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).