Human Placenta Processed for Encapsulation Contains Modest Concentrations of Fourteen Trace Minerals and Elements

Maternal placentophagy has recently emerged as a rare but increasingly popular practice among women in industrialized countries who often ingest the placenta as a processed, encapsulated supplement, seeking its many purported postpartum health benefits. Little scientific research, however, has evaluated these claims, and concentrations of trace micronutrients/elements in encapsulated placenta have never been examined. Because the placenta retains beneficial micronutrients and potentially harmful toxic elements at parturition, we hypothesized that dehydrated placenta would contain detectable concentrations of these elements.

Source: Nutrition Research - April 20, 2016 Category: Nutrition Authors: Sharon M. Young, Laura K. Gryder, Winnie B. David, Yuanxin Teng, Shawn Gerstenberger, Daniel C. Benyshek Source Type: research