Unfortunately, this review was published in 2002, and the conclusions may no longer apply. The same review suggests that 50 g of activated charcoal taken three hours after poisoning can reduce absorption by an average of 21 percent. Still, if digestion has slowed, activated charcoal may help reduce the final amount absorbed. In addition, many people don’t show symptoms until at least two hours after ingesting a toxin, which means most of the toxin has likely already been absorbed or moved into the intestine, according to a 2002 review. Yet most of the comparisons involved small sample sizes, usually between 6 and 10 volunteers. According to data from 48 comparisons involving 26 drugs, volunteers who took at least 50 grams (g) of activated charcoal 30 minutes after ingesting poison reduced absorption by an average of 47 percent, per a 2005 position paper. (6)Īctivated charcoal is most helpful in cases of drug overdoses and poisonings when administered immediately. The first reported use of activated charcoal for treating poisonings happened in 1811, but the antidote became less popular over time. And in reality, that’s the one use that MedlinePlus agrees activated charcoal is likely good for. ( 8) Thanks to this ingredient’s ability to trap toxins in the gut, it can be useful in emergencies to treat drug overdoses and poisonings. Can Effectively Treat Poisoning and Drug Overdose in a Clinical Setting Here are just a few of its potential health benefits. Proponents of activated charcoal tout the ingredient as a powerful detoxifier. But before you jump on the bandwagon, there are a few things you should know. Long story short, activated charcoal is a hot, of-the-moment ingredient and supplement. ( 2, 3) (That said, New York banned restaurants from using activated charcoal in foods and drinks in 2018.) ( 4) ( 1) The top reason people cited for taking supplements was overall health and wellness.īut the obsession with activated charcoal doesn’t stop with supplements it’s being added to detox drinks, toothpaste, skin-care products, and even cocktails and ice cream. Indeed, research shows more people are taking supplements today than a decade ago: 80 percent, compared with 65 percent in 2009, according to a 2021 consumer survey from the Council for Responsible Nutrition. Like many supplements, activated charcoal is appealing because it’s easy to buy (no prescription needed), quick to take, “and it, quote-unquote, helps remove toxins from the body, which is appealing,” says Amy Shapiro, RD, the founder of Real Nutrition NYC in New York. Once primarily used in emergency rooms to treat poisonings and overdoses, otherwise healthy people are now taking activated charcoal supplements in hopes of detoxing their bodies and treating a variety of ailments, including diarrhea, gas, kidney problems, hangovers, and yellowed teeth. In recent years, activated charcoal - that’s right, the stuff commonly used in water filtration systems - has emerged as the latest “detoxifying” supplement of choice. Detox supplements are everywhere, and they all claim to do one thing: rid the body of harmful toxins.
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