Aluminum (Serum)

Serum Aluminum measures exposure to aluminum. While abundant in the environment, significant absorption/accumulation is usually limited unless exposure is high (e.g., occupational, certain medications like aluminum-containing antacids/vaccines, contaminated IV fluids) or kidney function is severely impaired (dialysis patients). High aluminum burden can be toxic, particularly to the nervous system (encephalopathy) and bones (osteomalacia). Its link to Alzheimer's disease remains controversial and unproven.