ABSTRACT
Inorganic arsenic oxides including arsenite [trivalent arsenic, As(III)], the reduced form, and arsenate [pentavalent arsenic, As(V)] salts, the oxidized form, are the most toxic and harmful forms of arsenic, which are readily absorbed into the human body and accumulated in the tissues and uids [1-6]. It is important to mention that As(III) is more toxic than As(V). Both of these arsenic oxides are integral constituents of geologic formation and are readily extracted into the ground water [1-6]. Approximately 137 million people in more than 70 countries have been reported to suffer from arsenic poisoning of drinking water [1-5]. Arsenic poisoning also occur from mining and ore smelting, however, the most serious problem occurs in
16.1 Introduction .................................................................................................. 481 16.2 Functional Foods for Combating Arsenic Toxicity ...................................... 482
16.2.1 Selenomethionine ............................................................................ 482 16.2.2 Dietary Zinc Supplement ................................................................ 483 16.2.3 Curcumin ........................................................................................ 483 16.2.4 Lipoic Acid ...................................................................................... 483 16.2.5 Probiotics ......................................................................................... 483 16.2.6 Folic Acid and Vitamin B12............................................................484 16.2.7 Vitamin A........................................................................................484 16.2.8 Vitamin E ........................................................................................484 16.2.9 Dietary Phosphates .........................................................................485 16.2.10 Methionine ......................................................................................485 16.2.11 Moringa oleifera Leaves .................................................................485 16.2.12 Jaggery ............................................................................................485 16.2.13 Boron Compounds ..........................................................................487
16.3 Conclusion ....................................................................................................487 References ..............................................................................................................488
water wells drilled into aquifers that have high concentrations of these arsenic oxides [2-6]. It is important to mention that organic arsenic is 500 times less harmful than inorganic arsenic [2-6]. Also, seafood is a common source of less toxic organic arsenic in the form of arsenobetaine [2-6].
