Abstract
Germanium, an element with both metallic and nonmetallic properties, was discovered in 1886. Germanium supplements became popular in the 1970s in Japan to prevent and treat disease, and their use had spread to Britain and other countries by the mid-1980s (Tao and Bolger, 1997).
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Becker BN, Greene J, Evanson J, Chidsey G, Stone WJ. Ginseng-induced diuretic resistance [letter]. JAMA 1996; 276: 606–7.
Buche J. How to take germanium. Available from: URL: http://seasilver.threadnet.com/Preventorium/germados.htm. Accessed July 17, 2000.
Consumer Fraud Alert Network. Vitalium Plus health scam. Available from: URL: http://www.microsmarts.com/fraudalert/mcccom.htm. Accessed July 17, 2000.
FDA. Import alert IA5407. Revised 9/13/95. Available from: URL:http://www.fda.gov/ora/fiars/ora_import_ia5407.html Accessed July 26, 2000.
Gerber GB, Leonard A. Mutgenicity, carcinogenicity, and teratogenicity of germanium compounds. Mutat Res 1997; 387: 141–6.
Goodman S. Therapeutic effects of organic germanium. Med Hypotheses 1988; 26: 207–15.
Hess B, Raisin J, Zimmermann A, et al. Tubulointerstitial nephropathy persisting 20 months after discontinuation of chronic intake of germanium lactate citrate. Am J Kidney Dis 1993; 21: 548–52.
Hill BT, Bellamy AS, Metcalfe S, et al. Identification of synergistic combinations of spirogermanium with 5-fluorouracil or cisplatin using a range of human tumour cell lines in vitro. Invest New Drugs 1984; 2: 29–33.
Ishiwata Y, Yokochi S, Hashimoto H, Ninomiya F, Suzuki T. Protection against concanavalin A-induced murine liver injury by the organic germanium compound, propagergermanium. Scand J Immunol 1988; 48: 605–14.
Kim KM, Lim CS, Kim S, et al. Nephropathy and neuropathy induced by a germanium-containing compound. Nephrol Dial Transplant 1998; 13: 3218–9.
Lin C, Chen T, Hsieh Y, Jiang S, Chen S. Kinetics of germanium dioxide in rats. Toxicology 1999; 132: 147–53.
Mainwaring MG, Poor C, Zander DS, Harman E Complete remission of pulmonary spindle cell carcinoma after treatment with oral germanium sesquioxide. Chest 2000; 117: 591–3.
Okada K, Okagawa K, Kawakami K, et al. Renal failure caused by long-term use of a germanium preparation as an elixir. Clin Nephrol 1989; 31: 219–24.
Schauss AG. Nephrotoxicity and neurotoxicity in humans from organogermanium compounds and germanium dioxide. Biol Trace Element Res 1991; 29: 267–80.
Shinohara A, Chiba M, Inaba Y. Determination of germanium in human specimens: comparative study of atomic absorption spectrometry and microwave-induced plasma mass spectrometry. J Anal Toxicol 1999; 23: 625–31.
Takeuchi A, Yoshizawa N, Oshima S, et al. Nephrotoxicity of germanium compounds. Nephron 1992; 60: 436–42.
Tao S, Bolger M. Hazard assessment of germanium supplements. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 1997; 25: 211–9.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2003 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Chase, T.A., Cupp, M.J., Tracy, T.S. (2003). Germanium. In: Cupp, M.J., Tracy, T.S. (eds) Dietary Supplements. Forensic Science and Medicine. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-303-3_12
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-303-3_12
Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ
Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-9726-7
Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-303-3
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive