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Profile 1, Trace Elements (Hair) Trace Elements

Rubidium

Optimal Result: 0.0017 - 0.0244 Units.

Rubidium is a relatively benign element that typically parallels the potassium level. It varies according to levels found in water supplies. 

Rubidium is a non-toxic element and is known to be associated with lithium. It is also frequently found to be elevated with potassium.

Rubidium and its salts have few commercial uses. The metal is used in the manufacture of photocells. Rubidium salts are used in glass and ceramics and in fireworks to give them a
purple color. Potential uses are in ion engines, vapor turbines, and as a “getter” in vacuum tubes. Rubidium isotopes have been used as tracers in medical tests to observe blood flow in
the heart, brain, and kidney. 

Foods found to contain up to 200 ppm rubidium include:
- tomatoes, 
- beef, 
- soybean, 
- and coffee.

Rubidium has no known biological role but has a slight stimulatory effect on metabolism, probably because of its similarity to potassium. The two elements are found together
in minerals and soils, although potassium is much more abundant than rubidium. Rubidium enters the food chain and so contributes to a daily intake of between 1 and 5 mg. It is
moderately toxic by ingestion. Rubidium reacts readily with moisture on the skin and forms rubidium hydroxide which can cause chemical burns of the eyes and skin. 

Overexposure to rubidium can cause failure to gain weight, ataxia, skin ulcers, and extreme nervousness. Since rubidium and potassium have similar properties, potassium imbalance can occur when replaced with rubidium in the body.

Rubidium can be tested in human erythrocytes, plasma, or urine. Hair levels are thought to indicate rubidium exposure.

Rubidium has been used in alternative cancer treatments to raise pH.

Toxicity studies in rats showed that rubidium chloride resulted in decreased growth, anemia, and changes to liver cells, kidney cells, brain enzymes, and hepatic lipid composition. Ascorbic acid supplementation appeared to prevent the rubidiuminduced liver and kidney effects. Studies on experimental animals suggested that rubidium would pose an acute health hazard only when it is ingested in large quantities.

References:

Tamburo E, Varrica D, Dongarrà G, Grimaldi LM. Trace elements in scalp hair samples from patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. PLoS One. 2015 Apr 9;10(4):e0122142. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0122142. PMID: 25856388; PMCID: PMC4391939.

Biological properties of extracellular vesicles and their physiological functions. J Extracell Vesicles. 2015 May 14;4:27066. doi: 10.3402/jev.v4.27066. PMID: 25979354; PMCID: PMC4433489.

What does it mean if your Rubidium result is too high?

Sources:

Soil, food Photocells, vacuum tubes, glass and ceramics, fireworks, ion engines, vapor turbines, “getter” in vacuum tubes.

Symptoms:

Chemical burns of eyes and skin, failure to gain weight, ataxia, skin ulcers, nervousness Potassium imbalance.

Potential treatment:

Avoidance and treat for symptoms and conditions.

-----------------

At extremely high levels, Rubidium may compete with potassium for activity in the cellular potassium pump; in practical terms this is rarely seen.

Rubidium toxicology has not been fully investigated. It appears to displace potassium in rats, with symptoms of hyperirritability, neuromuscular effects, and muscle spasms.

There have not been reports of industrial exposure leading to injury. However, in one small human study, rubidium replaced
10-15% of the body’s potassium and the subjects showed no symptoms of toxicity.

Exposure could lead to irritation, burns, or ulceration.

What does it mean if your Rubidium result is too low?

Hair Rubidium (Rb) levels may correlate with exposure and with Rb levels in other tissues. Rubidium is not considered to have a biological function; due to chemical similarity to potassium, it may be taken up by plants and animals. Daily intake varies from 1-5 mg depending on geography and diet.

Rubidium is a non-toxic element that is often associated with lithium and frequently found to be elevated with potassium. However, the biological function of rubidium remains to be fully studied, and the significance of a low or elevated level in Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis is currently unknown.

However, a study comparing trace element levels in scalp hair samples from patients with relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and healthy controls found that MS patients showed a significantly lower hair concentration of rubidium compared to healthy controls. The study indicated that there are different distributions of trace elements, including rubidium, in the hair of MS patients compared to healthy individuals, which may suggest a metabolic imbalance of chemical elements in the pathogenesis of the disease.

It is essential to note that the relationship between low rubidium levels in hair and specific health conditions is not yet well-established. Further research and assessments are required to understand the potential implications and underlying causes of low rubidium levels in hair analysis.

In summary, a low level of rubidium in hair analysis may be linked to certain health conditions, but the significance of this finding is not fully understood and requires further investigation.

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