Sunday June 9, 2013 (foodconsumer.org) -- A new study in Comparative Clinical Pathology suggests that taking vitamin C or even a garlic extract preparation may help lower lead toxicity in individuals who are exposed to lead.

Mohie Haridy and colleagues conducted the study in rats and found vitamin C is most effective in preventing damage induced by lead exposure.  Rats exposed to lead and vitamin C simultaneously had similar hematological, biochemical, and pathological changes as those that were not exposed to lead.

In contrast, garlic and calcium carbonate provided some protection, but were  not as effective as vitamin C.

In the study, forty adult female albino rats were divided into five groups, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, assigned to receive distilled water, lead acetate, lead acetate plus garlic extract, lead acetate plus calcium carbonate, and lead acetate plus vitamin C, respectively, for 10 weeks. 

Rats exposed to lead alone (group 2) suffered hematological, biochemical, and pathological changes in the kidneys, brain, liver and spleen.  Vitamin C, garlic extract and calcium carbonate all ameliorated the changes although calcium carbonate was least effective among the three detoxification agents.  Vitamin C corrected all the changes nearly to the normal levels.

The researchers concluded "vitamin C has a greater protective effect than garlic or calcium against lead toxicity." (reporting by Jimmy Downs)