Clinical Drug Experience Knowledgebase

Aluminum is an element with an atomic number of 13. On the periodic table of elements its symbol is Al. It belongs to a group of metals including lead and tin. Aluminum has been used for a long time. During Ancient Egypt, aluminum oxides were used in their glazes and pottery. The Romans also used this metallic element. During the 1800s, advances in research made it possible to produce pure aluminum. Aluminium is used in a huge variety of products including cans, foils, kitchen utensils, window frames, beer kegs and aeroplane parts. This is because of its particular properties. It has low density, is non-toxic, has a high thermal conductivity, has excellent corrosion resistance and can be easily cast, machined and formed. It is also non-magnetic and non-sparking. It is the second most malleable metal and the sixth most ductile. It is often used as an alloy because aluminium itself is not particularly strong. Alloys with copper, manganese, magnesium and silicon are lightweight but strong. They are very important in the construction of aeroplanes and other forms of transport. Aluminium is a good electrical conductor and is often used in electrical transmission lines. It is cheaper than copper and weight for weight is almost twice as good a conductor. When evaporated in a vacuum, aluminium forms a highly reflective coating for both light and heat. It does not deteriorate, like a silver coating would. These aluminium coatings have many uses, including telescope mirrors, decorative paper, packages and toys. Aluminium has no known biological role. Aluminium can accumulate in the body, and a link with Alzheimer’s disease has been suggested but not proven. Aluminum-containing raw materials are used safely and extensively in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and over-the-counter (OTC) drug products. In cosmetics, they function as pigments and thickening agents. Aluminum compounds also function as active ingredients in OTC drugs such as antacids and antiperspirants. Aluminum-containing ingredients have several uses in cosmetics and personal care products. Aluminum salts are used as antiperspirants to control sweat. Antiperspirant ingredients are regulated as over-the-counter (OTC) drugs by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A manufacturer can only use the aluminum active ingredients that have been approved as safe and effective by the FDA as listed in the OTC antiperspirant monograph. These products can only be used according to the guidelines established in this monograph. Aluminum may also be present in cosmetic colors. Aluminum powder is FDA approved and may be safely used in coloring externally applied cosmetics, including cosmetics intended for use in the area of the eye, [21 CFR §73.2645 Aluminum powder.]. In addition, aluminum is a common component in other cosmetic colors where it may be used as a substrate upon which another color is precipitated. Because the resulting color is not water-soluble, this can prevent ‘bleeding’, for example with lipstick. There are other uses of aluminum-containing ingredients in cosmetics, such as use as thickening agents. Under federal law, the safety of all ingredients must be substantiated by the manufacturer of the product before it is placed on the market. Aluminum compounds (alum) are the most widely used adjuvants in veterinary and human vaccines. Alum facilitates effectiveand long-lasting protective immunity in hosts, mainly by inducing antibody responses. Alum was found toinduce endogenous CD4+T cells and antibody production as well as to induce priming of CD8+T cells. These effects are shown to beindependent of the inflammasome. Novel findings of unexpected beneficial effects of decreased HBV (Hepatitis B virus) viral load and HBeAg seroconversion in chronically infected patients, as well as significant tumor suppression in experimental mice following multiple alum-only injections were examined, revealing alum's potential clinical applications beyond its use as a simple tool in antigen preparation.   ^NCATS