The science behind the use of montmorillonite clay as a health supplement has remarkably expanded over the past two decades. In fact, research now corroborates the anecdotal and ethnomedicinal claims that have been made for hundreds if not thousands of years by cultures throughout the globe. 

While there is a worldwide market for consuming edible clay, does this mean that it’s safe to eat?

To understand its safety profile, we need to look at the science. The direct intention of this blog is to shine a light on a smaller-sized study performed almost twenty years ago which focused on the safety profile of edible clay. 

It is important to note that clinical studies of this type helped open the door to larger-sized studies which evaluated the therapeutic effectiveness of clay. This was one of the first independently run clinical trials to evaluate the safety of clay consumption. After all, before one can understand the effect of a particular supplement or medication, it’s imperative to establish its safety in users.

The BIG Question

Is clay safe to eat?

The answer to this depends on what type of clay is consumed. Not all clays in the world are recognized as safe for internal consumption. The focus of my book is the consumption of a particular type of clay called Montmorillonite, which belongs to the Smectite mineral family of clays. Much of the clinical work on the therapeutic use of clay has focused on this type. 

Today, companies in both the traditional pharmaceutical and alternative medicine channels sell clay. Their clay products are sold to either alleviate digestive distress, diarrhea or used in detoxification in both humans and animals. 

My other blogs and new book highlight some of the drugs and over-the-counter products that are made from clay and manufactured by pharmaceutical companies. These therapeutic products are sold throughout the world on every major continent. So the answer is yes, clay can be safe to eat depending on the type which is utilized.

Safety Trial Overview

The summary of the independent clinical trial that follows is an excerpt from my book Healing with Clay by Ran Knishinsky and includes some additional commentary for the reader. 

This trial was conducted in humans and published in the Food Additives and Contaminants Journal. Food Additives and Contaminants 22, no. 3 (March 2005): 270–79. The authors were J.-S. Wang, H. Luo, M. Billam, Z. Wang, H. Guan, L. Tang, T. Goldston, et al.

Clinical Study Title

Short-Term Safety Evaluation of Processed Calcium Montmorillonite Clay (NovaSil) in Humans

Background

The authors note that montmorillonite clay provides significant protection from the adverse effects of aflatoxins in multiple animal species by decreasing bioavailability from the gastrointestinal tract. The clay prevents the uptake of aflatoxins in the blood and subsequent distribution to target organs.

What are aflatoxins? It’s a class of toxic compounds that are produced by certain molds found in food and can cause liver damage and cancer. What foods contain this long and scary name aflatoxins? 

• Groundnuts

• Tree nuts

• Maize

• Rice

• Figs and other dried foods

• Spices

• Crude vegetable oils

• Cocoa beans

How Exactly Do the Foods We Eat Contain Aflatoxins?

This happens as a result of fungal contamination either before and/or after the harvest. While in the western world our exposure to aflatoxins is low, this is not the case for other parts of the world where the occurrence of fungal contamination may be extraordinarily high. This can lead to unintended severe medical problems. 

The consumption of this type of toxin can happen either directly through eating the foods listed above or indirectly through eating, let’s say, for example, the animals that consume these foods. How does this happen? This would be the animal feed and includes cattle or chickens for instance.

Study Background

Given the safety and efficacy of montmorillonite clay in many animal models, they postulate that clay can be safely added to human diets to diminish exposure and health risks from aflatoxin-contaminated food.

Overview of the Trial

As a first step toward this effort, the authors organized a two-week clinical trial in humans who are at high risk for aflatoxicosis in developing countries. To determine the safety and tolerance of montmorillonite clay in humans and establish protocols for long-term efficacy studies, a randomized and double-blinded phase I clinical trial was conducted. Volunteers (20–45 years in age) were clinically screened for confirmation of their health status. Fifty subjects (23 males and 27 females) were randomly divided into two groups: the low-dose group received nine capsules containing 1.5 g/day, and the high-dose group received nine capsules containing 3.0 g/day for a period of two weeks.

Capsules were manufactured in the same color and size and were distributed to each participant three times a day at designated sites where follow-up was taken to record any side effects and complaints.

Blood and urine samples were collected before and after the study for laboratory analysis. All participants completed the trial, and compliance was 99.1 percent. Mild gastrointestinal effects were reported in both groups, but there was no statistical significance found between either group for these adverse effects. No significant differences were shown in hematology, liver and kidney function, electrolytes, vitamins A and E, and minerals in either group.

Results

These results demonstrate the relative safety of Novasil (NS) montmorillonite clay in human subjects. They highlight that NS clay is one of the best detoxifying clays in terms of its ability to decrease the toxicity of aflatoxin in animals. 

Summary

In summary, the study results support the utilization of montmorillonite clay in the diet of humans to either block or significantly diminish exposure to aflatoxins—in addition to preventing the adverse effects of aflatoxins in humans who have consumed aflatoxin-contaminated grains. This trial will ultimately serve as a basis for long-term human trials in populations at high risk for aflatoxicosis.

About the Author: Ran Knishinsky eats clay on a daily basis. When he's not eating dirt, he is the author of 4 books published in 5 languages. Ran is the founder of Detox Dirt, an edible montmorillonite clay. Ran has been over 15 years in both the naturopathic and allopathic medicine industries. He first owned a Homeopathic Dispensary and Health Food Store. Later he worked in the Hospital, Med Device, and Pharmaceutical sectors as a Management Consultant and Marketing Executive where he led large-scale commercial efforts for high-profile drugs at publicly traded companies. Ran holds a Master of Business Administration from the WP Carey School of Business at Arizona State University. Learn more about what Ran is eating at DetoxDirt.com!