MAIN Health Vitamins & Minerals Germanium

Germanium, which is known as Ge on the periodic table, is a trace mineral that has a number of potential health benefits. Germanium was widely studied up until the 1980s, but for a number of reasons this research was largely discontinued, and so many of the purported health benefits that germanium provides have not been thoroughly tested.

That is changing, however, and germanium is being examined by the scientific community once again.

One supposed health benefit of germanium is that it helps treat HIV. Germanium was used widely by holistic medicine practitioners in the 1970s and the 1980s, before it was cast in a severely negative light due to its toxicity. While germanium's toxicity is still a very real concern, it may not be as severe a problem as it was thought to originally be in the 1980s.

Another purported health benefit of germanium is as a treatment of cancer. Germanium does not actually fight cancer itself. Instead, germanium is what is called a biological response modifier, which means that it boosts the immune system, making the immune system more effective at fighting cancer tumors. And because germanium boosts the immune system, it is believed that it might have a similar positive effect on a number of other degenerative illnesses.

While science is rediscovering the health benefits of germanium, it should be noted that it can be mildly toxic even at doses only marginally over the recommended daily intake, and so care and research should be undertaken when supplementing with germanium.

For those looking to naturally boost their intake, there are many foods which contain a significant amount of germanium, including beans, garlic, tuna, and oysters.

More information about germanium around the Web:

Germanium - the life and health enhancer - Its history, effects as an antioxidant, immune system enhancer, arthritis reliever, and a myriad of other conditions, including dosage regimens, and general advice on holistic healing in 15 chapters.

Germanium - A complete description plus information on Japanese claims for germanium as an anti-inflammatory, dangers of renal failure as a result of overdose, and related bibliography from PDRhealth.

Home Page for Dr. Asai's Book on Germanium - From a 1980 out-of-print book that touted the trace element as a miracle cure together with a heavy dose of mysticism, including A Prayer for Germanium, and a biography of the author, Kazuhiko Asai.

Food Standards Agency - Germanium - With a nod to natural sources of germanium found in beans, oysters, tuna and garlic, plus cautions against the use of inorganic supplements, with more complete information and scientific assessment in PDF format.