• Bentonite dosage
• Bentonite effect
• Bentonite side effects
• Bentonite use

Bentonite Montmorillonite – a look at the volcanic mineral 

Bentonite is a volcanic material that was deposited millions of years ago in broad layers that weathered and changed from a fragile glassy state to a mineral one. The net negative charge of bentonite attracts positively charged proteins. The immense internal surface area between the individual alumina-silica plates provides an abundance of attachment sites (Gougeon et al., 2002). The charged sites on the proteins are neutralized by cation exchange, which leads to flocculation and deposition as a clay-protein complex. Bentonite clay is part of the "smectite" group of clay, which is known for its ability to expand when exposed to a liquid. It is rich in minerals, including silica, magnesium, calcium, sodium, copper, iron, and potassium. There are two types of bentonite clay, depending on the ratio of the main minerals they contain: sodium-bentonite clay and calcium-bentonite clay. They have similar characteristics, with subtle nuances. Calcium bentonite clay, is also the type that is typically preferred for consumption when used for detoxification purposes, as it is gentler on the stomach.

Bentonites of different types are found in different geographical locations around the world, they are mined from different depths and are obtained in different degrees of purity, particle sizes, adsorption capacities and swelling capabilities (Marchal et al., 1995). Geophagy (the ingestion of soils, minerals, and rocks by humans) has been observed as an adaptive behavior in humans and animals [1]. Clays and earths have been considered healing materials since ancient times. Since geophagia is an occasional habit of animals and humans, it is physiologically thought that soil could have some positive effects on body function. 

Bentonite is an absorbent aluminum silicate. It is named after Fort Benton, Wyoming, where its largest deposits are found. Its other name, montmorillonite clay, derives from the Montmorillon region of France, where it was first found. It has been used and eaten from ancient times to the present day. When mixed with water, it creates a paste that can be used both externally and internally. In some areas, such as Iran, it has been used as a hair wash since time immemorial. There is sufficient literature to prove its safety after chronic oral intake [2-6].

The basis for many of bentonite's presumed benefits is that it is highly adsorptive, which makes it attract positively charged particles such as a magnet, both when applied topically and when taken internally. The particles of the clay carry a negative electrical charge. Heavy metals  and carry a positive charge and  some research suggests that negatively charged bentonite is able to attach to these substances and help remove them from the body.

One of the best-studied properties of bentonite is its ability to bind and excrete pollutants such as heavy metals. Bentonite has a detoxifying effect due to its poly-cationic nature, because it is able to bind negatively charged toxins in the gastrointestinal tract through adsorption and transport them out of the body.

Various studies suggest that bentonite can reduce the effects of toxins. [1] For example, a study on chicks [2] found that montmorillonite bentonite reduced the effects of a toxin. Chicks that received a concentrated bentonite clay product had less toxic effects than those that did not receive the clay. Another study [3] evaluated the effects of montmorillonite, a type of bentonite, on reducing toxins in children in Ghana, West Africa. The researchers found that children who were given a product made from calcium montmorillonite clay daily for two weeks had fewer signs of the toxin in their urine than children who did not receive this product.

In a small-scale animal study, rats consumed wastewater that contained a pollutant. The researchers gave a portion of the rats different amounts of bentonite clay or a placebo. Those who received the most clay had the least amount of the poison in their bodies after 3 weeks.

Metal toxicity, or metal poisoning, is the toxic effect of certain metals in certain forms and doses on life. Lead poisoning is a medical condition in humans and other vertebrates caused by increased concentrations of the heavy metal lead in the body. Lead interferes with a variety of bodily processes and is toxic to many organs and tissues, including the heart, bones, intestines, kidneys, and reproductive and nervous systems. In the subjects of one study, administration of montmorillonite for 100 days resulted in a reduction in lead concentrations in the blood, brain, liver, bones, kidneys, and hair [23]. Copper toxicity, also called copper poisoning, refers to the consequences of an excess of copper in the body. In the subjects of one study, it was found that dietary Cu bioavailability can be reduced by oral supplements of bentonite [24]. Cadmium is an extremely toxic metal that is commonly found in industrial workplaces. Exposure of carp (Carassius auratus) to dietary cadmium caused oxidative stress, while dietary montmorillonite relatively reversed cadmium-induced oxidative damage in the liver and kidney [25]. In addition, bentonite is reported to reduce cadmium-induced cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in Nile tilapia fish [26]. In general, it seems that bentonite is a reliable treatment for metal poisoning.

Bentonite effect when used externally

Bentonite has been used externally on the skin for a long time. Nettles and other plants are the most common causes of allergic contact dermatitis in Europe. Bentonite has been shown to be effective in preventing or reducing experimentally induced allergic contact dermatitis [28]. Irritant and allergic hand dermatitis is considered a difficult problem to control in individuals who are unable to avoid causative exposures. The use of bentonite in a moisturizing cream has been shown to improve chronic hand dermatitis in a majority of individuals with previously uncontrolled dermatitis [30]. For diaper rash, which is one of the most common skin conditions in childhood, bentonite reportedly works better and faster than alternatives. [32]. Before undergoing external medical treatment, it is advisable to consult your trusted doctor.  

Bentonite may act as a barrier to the transfer of toxic organophosphorus compounds through the skin, suggesting its physical protective effect on the skin [33]. In the case of sunscreens, inclusion complexes of commercial sunscreens in montmorillonites have been reported to exhibit optimized functional properties such as water resistance and skin adhesion, making them a good substrate in these types of skin products [34]. In addition, sunscreens containing a certain amount of bentonite mineral are reported to be more effective at absorbing the highest percentage of UV light than commercially available sunscreens [35].

Although it has long been used as a hair cleanser and emollient in many areas, such as Iran, there is no scientific article that evaluates its effect on hair. However, bentonite has now been shown to increase wool growth in sheep [37].

Bentonite effect in the gastrointestinal tract

For a long time, bentonite was considered a cure for diarrhea. In 1961, orally administered bentonite was shown to treat a significant proportion of all cases with various causative factors of diarrhea (viral infection, food allergy, spastic colitis, mucous colitis, and food poisoning) [38].

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common, chronic disease of the digestive system. It can cause bouts of abdominal cramps, bloating, diarrhea, and/or constipation. When bentonite (3 g, t.d. for 8 weeks) was administered to patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), it affected this syndrome. Although pain or discomfort was not significantly improved in the overall IBS population treated with montmorillonite compared to placebo, it modulated habits in constipation-dominated IBS [39]. Montmorillonite, which was combined with zinc in the diet, improved growth, relieved diarrhea after weaning, and improved the integrity of the intestinal mucosa and the activities of digestive enzymes in the pancreas and small intestine contents of pigs [40].

While bentonite can absorb many organic and inorganic materials in the gastrointestinal tract, it is reported not to negatively affect mineral metabolism [10] and micronutrient absorption [41]. The intestinal flora is the complex community of microorganisms that live in the digestive tract of humans and other animals. These microorganisms benefit the host by fermenting fiber into short-chain fatty acids and synthesizing vitamin B and vitamin K, as well as metabolizing bile acids, sterols, and xenobiotics [42]. Intragastric administration of bentonite to rats for 28 days results in hyperproduction of colonic yeast microflora [43]. Then bentonite could support the absorption of nutrients by increasing the activity of the intestinal flora.

Source references 

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