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Chelated minerals

Chelated minerals are minerals that have been chemically combined with amino acids to form complexes. Products such as chelated calcium, chelated chromium, chelated boron, etc. can be found on the market. Chelated minerals are used to support normal growth, stabilize bipolar disorders, build strong muscles and bones, and improve immune system function and overall health. Manufacturers market chelated minerals as nutritional supplements that are superior to other mineral supplements and claim that chelated minerals are better utilized by the body than non-chelated minerals due to higher bioavailability. However, there is as yet no scientific evidence to support this claim. In fact, there is very little scientific information on chelated minerals to date.

How do chelated minerals work?

Minerals are needed for the proper growth and maintenance of the human body. There is no scientific evidence to show that chelated minerals are better utilized by the body than non-chelated minerals.

How effective are chelated minerals?

There is not enough scientific data to make a statement about the effectiveness of chelated min erals for bipolar disorder. However, there are preliminary scientific results suggesting that some cases of bipolar disorder may be stabilized by a chelated mineral supplement. A scientific research study of adults suffering from bipolar disorder that meets generally accepted scientific standards is currently underway. There is also not yet enough scientific information on the effectiveness of chelated minerals when used as a dietary mineral supplement, to improve immune function and to build strong bones and muscles. Further scientific research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of chelated minerals in all these applications.

Safety and side effects

There is not enough information to say whether chelated min erals are safe and harmless or what side effects they may have.

Precautions and warnings

Pregnancy and lactation: Not enough is known about the use of chelated minerals during pregnancy and lactation. For this reason, pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid chelated minerals.

Interactions

There is currently no information on interactions between chelated minerals and medications or supplements.

Dosage

An appropriate dosage of chelated minerals depends on various factors such as age, state of health and others. At this time, there is insufficient scientific data to determine appropriate dosage ranges for chelated minerals. For this reason, you should follow the dosage instructions on the label and/or consult a doctor or pharmacist before use.

References

  1. Kaplan BJ, Simpson JS, Ferre RC, et al. Effective mood stabilization with a chelated mineral supplement: an open-label trial in bipolar disorder. J Clin Psychiatry 2001;62:936-44.
  2. Popper C. Do Vitamins or Minerals (Apart from Lithium) have mood-stabilizing effects? J Clin Psychiatry 2001;62:933-35.
  3. Branton SL, Lott BD, Maslin WR, et al. Fatty liver-hemorrhagic syndrome observed in commercial layers fed diets containing chelated minerals. Avian Dis 1995;39:631-5.