Study finds that tellurium contamination in foods may elevate the risk of high blood pressure

The likelihood of developing high blood pressure (hypertension) increases with higher levels of tellurium, a contaminant transferred from mining and manufacturing activities to foods a recent study published in the journal Environment International has stated, Improved monitoring of tellurium levels in specific foods could help decrease high blood pressure in the general population.

The study was led by Nagoya University in Japan. According to Takumi Kagawa, one of the researchers involved in the study, the findings are significant as they indicate that tellurium exposure may contribute to elevated blood pressure, a significant public health concern.

In Japan, cereals and legumes, such as rice and natto (fermented soybeans), are popular dietary staples. These foods are rich in essential nutrients, including high-quality carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals, which are beneficial for health.

However, they can also contain tellurium, a rare metalloid. The presence of tellurium in the soil often results from dust, ash, and slag released by mining and manufacturing activities. In some cases, tellurium can be absorbed from the soil into crop plants like cereals, carrots, and garlic, leading to exposure through food consumption.

The study conducted by Professor Masashi Kato, Takumi Kagawa, and their colleagues involved 2,592 Japanese adults. It found that higher levels of tellurium in urine were linked to increased blood pressure and a higher incidence of hypertension. These findings were consistent in both mice and humans.

It is found that despite raising tellurium levels in the urine, cereal/legume intake did not directly increase the risk of hypertension. Cereals/legumes may contain many diverse nutrients that can mitigate the risk of hypertension despite high levels of tellurium. However, considering that increased tellurium exposure is a latent risk factor for hypertension and foods contribute to this association, careful and continuous monitoring of tellurium levels in individual foods may be crucial.

Misawa, T., et al. (2024). Elevated level of urinary tellurium is a potential risk for increase of blood pressure in humans and mice. Environment International. doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2024.108735.