Lead Poisoning Risk Seen in Big Bone Meal Doses

People taking 20 or 30 bone meal tablets every day as a calcium supplement may be giving themselves lead poisoning, a researcher said Friday.

The bone meal is safe at normal doses, but some contains minute amounts of lead that could accumulate in the body with so-called “megadoses” taken by many vitamin enthusiasts, said Dr. Badi Boulos of the University of Illinois School of Public Health.

“If people are taking the normal two or three tablets a day, we’re not concerned,” Boulos said. “But, unfortunately, most of the people who are taking the bone meal are taking much more than that.”

Bone meal, which is produced by crushing the bones of cattle and chickens, is sold in many health food stores as a natural source of calcium and is touted for athletes, as well as older and pregnant women. But the meal contains lead that the animals accumulated over their lifetimes, Boulos said.

Low-level lead poisoning can damage kidneys, liver and nerves over time and can cause anemia and mental disturbances and retardation. Boulos warned that pregnant women, in particular, may be putting their babies at risk by taking too much bone meal.