Elevated Lead, Nickel, and Bismuth Levels in the Peritoneal Fluid of a Peritoneal Endometriosis Patient without Toxic Habits or Occupational Exposure following a Vegetarian Diet Original paper
Researched by:
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Karen Pendergrass
ID
Karen Pendergrass
Karen Pendergrass is a microbiome researcher specializing in microbiome-targeted interventions (MBTIs). She systematically analyzes scientific literature to identify microbial patterns, develop hypotheses, and validate interventions. As the founder of the Microbiome Signatures Database, she bridges microbiome research with clinical practice. In 2012, based on her own investigative research, she became the first documented case of FMT for Celiac Disease—four years before the first published case study.
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Endometriosis
Endometriosis
Endometriosis involves ectopic endometrial tissue causing pain and infertility. Validated and Promising Interventions include Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT), Low Nickel Diet, and Metronidazole therapy.
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Women’s Health
Women’s Health
Women’s health, a vital aspect of medical science, encompasses various conditions unique to women’s physiological makeup. Historically, women were often excluded from clinical research, leading to a gap in understanding the intricacies of women’s health needs. However, recent advancements have highlighted the significant role that the microbiome plays in these conditions, offering new insights and potential therapies. MicrobiomeSignatures.com is at the forefront of exploring the microbiome signature of each of these conditions to unravel the etiology of these diseases and develop targeted microbiome therapies.
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Metals
Metals
OverviewHeavy metals play a significant and multifaceted role in the pathogenicity of microbial species. Their involvement can be viewed from two primary perspectives: the toxicity of heavy metals to microbes and the exploitation of heavy metals by microbial pathogens to establish infections and evade the host immune response. Understanding these aspects is critical for both […]
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Karen Pendergrass
Researched by:
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Karen Pendergrass
ID
Karen Pendergrass
Microbiome Signatures identifies and validates condition-specific microbiome shifts and interventions to accelerate clinical translation. Our multidisciplinary team supports clinicians, researchers, and innovators in turning microbiome science into actionable medicine.
Karen Pendergrass
What Was Studied?
This case report investigated the multielemental profile of peritoneal fluid (PF) in a 22-year-old woman diagnosed with peritoneal endometriosis. The study aimed to evaluate the concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs), including lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), bismuth (Bi), and cobalt (Co), and to compare them with levels in an age-matched control without endometriosis. The patient had no toxic habits, occupational exposure, or documented environmental exposure, and adhered to a vegetarian diet, raising questions about the dietary and environmental sources of PTEs and their role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis.
Who Was Studied?
The primary subject was a 22-year-old woman diagnosed with peritoneal endometriosis during laparoscopic surgery, where her PF was analyzed. The comparison group included an age-matched control and a reference cohort of ten women diagnosed with non-hormonally dependent benign ovarian cysts.
Most Important Findings
The study revealed significantly elevated levels of Pb (75 µg/L, 90:1 ratio), Ni (40.4 µg/L, 4:1 ratio), Bi (33.3 µg/L, 1.5:1 ratio), and Co (1.39 µg/L, 5:1 ratio) in the PF of the endometriosis patient compared to the control. These findings suggest potential contributions of dietary and environmental exposures to PTEs. Nickel, a cofactor for metalloenzymes, was noted to be higher potentially due to the patient’s vegetarian diet, which is associated with increased nickel intake from plant-based foods such as nuts and legumes. Elevated Pb levels were striking, with concentrations much higher than typical dietary or environmental exposures in industrialized settings. While cobalt and bismuth also showed elevated levels, their specific roles in endometriosis remain unclear. The findings support the hypothesis that environmental and dietary PTE exposure may contribute to the pathogenesis of endometriosis by inducing oxidative stress or endocrine disruption.
Greatest Implications
This study highlights the need to explore PTEs as potential biomarkers for endometriosis diagnosis and as contributors to its etiology. Elevated PTE levels in PF may result from dietary habits, such as a vegetarian diet, or unidentified environmental exposures. This study emphasizes the importance of further investigations into environmental toxicology and dietary patterns in endometriosis patients. Understanding these associations could inform preventative strategies, dietary guidelines, and therapeutic interventions for endometriosis management.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis involves ectopic endometrial tissue causing pain and infertility. Validated and Promising Interventions include Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT), Low Nickel Diet, and Metronidazole therapy.
Nickel
Bacteria regulate transition metal levels through complex mechanisms to ensure survival and adaptability, influencing both their physiology and the development of antimicrobial strategies.