Fatigue is a problem for many people who may struggle to find a cause for their symptoms of fatigue. However, the chemicals they may have been exposed to in their daily lives can have an impact on their health. Though often unseen and not thought of until a problem emerges, chemicals can contribute to symptoms of fatigue. Knowing some of the most likely chemical causes of fatigue can help fight fatigue symptoms.
High Aluminum Levels
According to The Environmental Illness Resource, high levels of aluminum are linked with fatigue. This is because aluminum can negatively affect the body's primary energy molecule, ATP. The Environmental Illness Resource cites an interview with a doctor who claimed that aluminum toxicity was the most common cause of fatigue in his patients. Nutritional changes and detoxification programs are recommended to counteract high aluminum levels in the body. Signs of fatigue caused by aluminum can include unusual tiredness and muscle weakness.
Low Magnesium Levels
Magnesium deficiencies have been linked to symptoms of fatigue, according to a 1991 article published in the journal "Lancet." In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study conducted by the University of Southampton Medical School in the U.K., magnesium supplements were administered to participants to determine if low magnesium levels were indeed linked to fatigue. The results definitively showed that those who lacked magnesium reported lower energy levels and overall levels of well-being. Conclusions determined that red blood cell magnesium levels were a key indicator for fatigue, especially in chronic fatigue syndrome.
Low Iodine Levels
One of the reasons that the body becomes fatigued is a deficiency of iodine, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. Iodine is essential for providing the chemical fuel for proper thyroid function. When there is not enough iodine in the body, the regular thyroid production is disrupted, resulting in hypothyroidism. The institute reports that this is primarily characterized by symptoms of fatigue.
High Lead Levels
Exposure to lead and lead-based solvents or paints can result in fatigue in adults and children, according to MayoClinic.com. In children, fatigue may be characterized by sluggishness, while in adults the fatigue may be characterized by tiredness and muscular weakness.
References
- Linus Pauling Institute: Iodine
- Mayo Clinic: Lead Poisoning: Symptoms
- MedlinePlus: Aluminum Hydroxide and Magnesium Hydroxide
- The Environmental Illness Resource: Tired or Toxic: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Environmental Toxicity
- "Lancet"; Red Blood Cell Magnesium and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome; I.M. Cox et al.; 1991
