## Summary
This critical review from PubMed examines the safety and medical applications of clinoptilolite, a natural zeolite with unique porous and ion-exchange properties. The authors highlight its ability to bind toxins such as ammonia, heavy metals, and mycotoxins while sparing essential nutrients, making it a promising candidate for detoxification. Evidence from animal and early human studies suggests that clinoptilolite supplementation can:
Improve gut barrier integrity (e.g., lower zonulin levels, reduced intestinal permeability)
Support microbiota balance by reducing harmful compounds without disturbing nutrient uptake
Exert antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects, boosting enzymes like superoxide dismutase and catalase
Provide safety reassurance, with no adverse impacts on blood mineral levels reported in veterinary trials
The review concludes that clinoptilolite is structurally stable, generally safe for in vivo use, and may serve as a valuable adjuvant for maintaining body homeostasis. However, the authors stress that human clinical data remain limited and call for standardized materials and rigorous long-term studies.
## Abstract
Unique and outstanding physical and chemical properties of zeolite materials make them extremely useful in a variety of applications including agronomy, ecology, manufacturing, and industrial processes. Recently, a more specific application of one naturally occurring zeolite material, clinoptilolite, has been widely studied in veterinary and human medicine. Due to a number of positive effects on health, including detoxification properties, the usage of clinoptilolite-based products in vivo has increased enormously. However, concerns have been raised in the public about the safety of clinoptilolite materials for in vivo applications. Here, we review the scientific literature on the health effects and safety in medical applications of different clinoptilolite-based materials and propose some comprehensive, scientifically-based hypotheses on possible biological mechanisms underlying the observed effects on the health and body homeostasis. We focus on the safety of the clinoptilolite material and the positive medical effects related to detoxification, immune response, and the general health status.
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## study:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6277462/