Tag: Gold toxicity

While historical medicine, including gold salts for rheumatoid arthritis, is well-documented, the potential side effects of modern gold supplements—including colloidal gold and gold nanoparticles—are not as clear-cut and warrant careful consideration. Understanding the documented risks is crucial before consuming any form of gold for purported health benefits.

While pure, elemental gold is largely unreactive and passes through the digestive system without harm, other forms of gold, particularly gold compounds and nanoparticles, can be highly toxic. The effects of taking too much gold depend entirely on its chemical form, from an expensive trip to the toilet to severe, systemic health complications.

Over the centuries, gold has been consumed as an extravagant food decoration and once believed to hold medicinal properties, but modern science confirms it is biologically inert, meaning it passes through the body completely unchanged. This article explores the specifics of how the body handles ingested gold, distinguishing between safe, food-grade varieties and potentially harmful types.