Activated charcoal has always been known as a remedy for numerous issues ranging from reducing hypercholesterolemia and treating poisoning to reducing intestinal gas.
In general, activated charcoal is non-toxic and safe to use, as it is not digested by humans in the gastrointestinal tract.
Activated charcoal was once considered the universal antidote. Today, it continues to be promoted as a powerful natural treatment.
But what is activated charcoal?
Activated charcoal is usually derived from coal, which is then specially treated by heating it with oxidizing gas or other products, in order to increase its degree of microporosity and surface area. This processing results in a highly porous charcoal.
The small pores can give the charcoal a surface area of up to 1500 m²/g, allowing liquids or gases to pass through the charcoal and interact with the exposed carbon.
Different types of activated charcoal are available on the market with various claimed properties and a wide range of reported applications.
For over-the-counter products, activated charcoal is available in different forms, e.g., in liquid, powder or granular form, in tablets, or capsules.
How does activated charcoal work?
Activated charcoal works by trapping toxins and harmful chemicals in the gut, preventing their absorption.
The porous texture of the charcoal has a negative electrical charge, which causes it to attract positively charged molecules, such as toxins and gases. This helps to retain toxins and chemicals in the gut.
Precisely because activated charcoal is not absorbed, it binds toxins to its surface and eliminates them from the body through stool.
But does it really reduce intestinal gas?
For those who are lactose intolerant, sometimes avoiding the offending sugar is not enough to observe a decrease in intestinal discomfort.
In this regard, the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) has intervened.
Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies was asked to provide a scientific opinion on a list of health claims pursuant to Article 13 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
This opinion addresses the scientific substantiation of health claims related to activated charcoal and the reduction of excessive intestinal gas accumulation and the reduction of bloating.
The scientific substantiation is based on information provided by Member States in the consolidated list of Article 13 health claims, and on references that EFSA has received from Member States or directly from stakeholders.
The scientific panel presumes that the claimed effect refers to the reduction of excessive intestinal gas accumulation and that this is a beneficial physiological effect.
In evaluating the evidence, the panel took into account the results of three human intervention studies, which consistently demonstrated an effect of activated charcoal on reducing the amount of intestinal gas accumulation.
The studies demonstrated the effectiveness of activated charcoal using different methods (e.g., hydrogen breath tests and number of flatus events) and in different populations (USA and India).
Based on the data presented, the study concluded that a cause-and-effect relationship has been established between the consumption of activated charcoal and the reduction of excessive intestinal gas accumulation.
What are the symptoms associated with the excessive presence of intestinal gas?
The most common symptoms associated with intestinal gas are excessive belching, flatulence, bloating, and abdominal distension. Unfortunately, few therapies have been shown to be effective in treating these symptoms.
Excessive belching can be treated by decreasing the excessive swallowing of air.
Distension and bloating may improve in some patients by avoiding foods containing partially digested or absorbed polysaccharides, by taking replacement enzymes (such as alpha-galactosidase or lactase), or by taking antibiotics aimed at altering the colon flora.
Activated charcoal or prokinetic agents can also be effective options for some patients.
Other benefits of activated charcoal
Activated charcoal (or vegetable charcoal) manifests a variety of benefits; let's look at a few:
- Activated charcoal in emergency anti-poisoning treatment
Thanks to its toxin-binding properties, activated charcoal has a variety of medical uses.
For example, activated charcoal is often used even in cases of poisoning.
This is because it can bind to a wide variety of drugs, reducing their effects. In humans, activated charcoal has been used as an antidote against poisons since the early 1800s.
It can be used for the treatment of prescription drug overdoses, as well as over-the-counter drug overdoses such as aspirin, paracetamol, and sedatives.
It is important to note that activated charcoal is not effective in all cases of poisoning.
For example, it appears to have little effect on poisoning from alcohol, heavy metals, iron, lithium, potassium, acid, or alkali. Its use should be considered on a case-by-case basis.
- Activated charcoal to promote kidney function
Activated charcoal may help promote kidney function.
This could be particularly useful in patients suffering from chronic kidney disease, a condition in which the kidneys can no longer properly filter waste products.
Healthy kidneys are normally very well equipped to filter blood without extra help. However, patients suffering from chronic kidney disease generally have difficulty removing urea and other toxins from the body.
Activated charcoal may have the ability to bind to urea and other toxins, helping your body eliminate them.
- Activated charcoal in reducing cholesterol levels
Activated charcoal may also help reduce cholesterol levels.
This is because it can bind cholesterol and cholesterol-containing bile acids in the gut, preventing the body from absorbing them.
- Activated charcoal for water filtration:
activated charcoal is a popular strategy for reducing the heavy metal and fluoride content in water. However, it does not appear to be very effective in removing viruses, bacteria, or hard water minerals.
- Activated charcoal for teeth whitening:
It seems to do this by absorbing plaque and other compounds that stain teeth. However, no studies could be found to support this claim.
- Activated charcoal in preventing a hangover (alcohol):
While consuming it with alcohol may reduce its levels in the blood, its effects on hangovers have not been studied.
Does activated charcoal help you lose weight? There is no scientific evidence that has shown such an effect.
Some suggestions for cases where there is intestinal gas.
- Patients should follow a low-carbohydrate diet in which they decrease their intake of legumes, starch, sorbitol, fructose, fiber, and lactose. Patients who consume soy should opt for soy products with low oligosaccharide content, which contain fewer fermentable carbohydrates than conventional soy. An unnecessarily restrictive diet can be difficult to maintain for a prolonged period of time and should be avoided.
- Excessive swallowing of air can be a source of excessive intestinal gas. One way to avoid this is to chew food thoroughly before swallowing, eat and drink slowly, and avoid chewing gum.
- Those who recognize excessive production of intestinal gas following the intake of milk and dairy products (including cured meats, creams, sweets, and ready-made products) can resort to diagnostic tests for lactose intolerance. If you test positive for lactose intolerance, don't despair! Today there are lactase enzyme food supplements that can help you digest well even if you are lactose intolerant!
Bibliography
- Ahmad Zaini and Mohamad / Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science 5 (10); 2015: 157-159
- Rebecca N. FinkAnthony J. Lembo “Intestinal gas” Current Treatment Options in Gastroenterology August 2001, Volume 4, Issue 4
- Fernando Azpiroz, Jordi Serra “Treatment of excessive intestinal gas” Current Treatment Options in Gastroenterology August 2004, Volume 7, Issue 4
- Hall RG, Jr., Thompson H and Strother A, 1981. Effects of orally administered activated charcoal on intestinal gas. American Journal of Gastroenterology, 75, 192-196. Jain NK, Patel VP and Pitchumoni CS, 1986a. Efficacy of activated charcoal in reducing intestinal gas: a double-blind clinical trial. American Journal of Gastroenterology, 81, 532-535.
- Jain NK, Patel VP and Pitchumoni S, 1986b. Activated charcoal, simethicone, and intestinal gas: a double-blind study. Annals of Internal Medicine, 105, 61-62.
- Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to activated charcoal and reduction of excessive intestinal gas accumulation (ID 1938) and reduction of bloating (ID 1938) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/20061 EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA)
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