Advances in Effect of Germanium or Germanium Compounds on Animals—A Review

Abstract

An increasing number of researches have been focused on the relationship between trace elements and animal health. Germanium, as a widely used trace element, exists ubiquitously as germanium or germanium compounds in the living environment of human and animals, and plays important roles in animal production or health. With the intensive study of the physiological function of germanium and its compounds, the effects of germanium on animal physiological functions and health have been gradually confirmed. In this review, we discuss the metabolic distribution, physiological characteristics, biological functions, germanium deficiency and germanium toxicity. Furthermore, we focus on the effects of germanium or germanium compounds on the immunity of animals. It is concluded that germanium or germanium compounds not only has positive effect but also has negative effect on animals. This review aims to provide a reference for the future research or application of the germanium or germanium compounds on animals or human beings.

The effects of germanium and selenium on growth, metalloid accumulation and ergosterol content in mushrooms: experimental study in Pleurotus ostreatus and Ganoderma lucidum

“…In humans, inorganic forms of Ge (Ge in ) are associated with toxicity. Experimental models have shown that its organic forms (Ge org ) may in turn display antioxidant, immunomodulatory and anticancer properties although the use of Ge-containing supplements is currently disregarded [20].…”

The Protective Effect of Germanium Citrate on Functional State of Immune Cells and Neutrophil Activity Under the Condition of Lipolysaccharide Induced Inflammation

“…Серед таких нанопрепаратів особливий статус належить цитрату германію (Ge), що має імуностимулюючі, протизапальні та антиоксидантні властивості, забезпечує зниження гіпоксії на тканинному рівні. Показано його стимулюючий вплив на імунобіологічну реактивність та репродуктивну функцію щурів [4][5][6]. Також випоювання цитратом Ge сприяло покращенню імунобіологічних показників щурів, в тому числі їх фертильності і молочності самиць [4,7,8].…”

Impact of feeding male rats F2 with different doses of germanium citrate on the content of traceelements in their tissues and organs

“…These interactions have been ¿ rmly established for most macro-and trace elements, and they are normalized in nutrition [1][2][3]. The regulatory impact of physiologically active, but insuf¿ ciently studied elements, among which germanium takes a prominent place, on organtissue distribution of other minerals, is presently actively studied in biology, medicine, and veterinary science [3,4]. Organic formulations of macro-and trace elements (nanoaquachelates) as obtained by nanotechnology methods receive special attention [5,6].…”

“…In particular, our earlier research [7,8] showed that the administration of germanium citrate, obtained via the erosive and explosive ablation with electro-impulse, caused a number of biological effects in the organism of rats. This may have found its cause in the fact that germanium (Ge) has an immuno-stimulating effect, enhances transport and transfer of Ɉ 2 and ensures the decrease of hypoxia at tissue level [3,4]. Certain organic forms of Ge have negatively charged oxygen ions that can scavenge free damaging hydrogen ions and minimize their damage to cells and tissues [9].…”

“…Certain organic forms of Ge have negatively charged oxygen ions that can scavenge free damaging hydrogen ions and minimize their damage to cells and tissues [9]. A notable characteristic of organic forms of Ge is that they are removed fast with urine from the organism, which indicates its low accumulation in tissues [4,10]. Different concentrations and duration of Ge intake affect physiological-biochemical processes in the organism differently, including their inÀ uence on the level of macro-and trace elements in tissues [3,6,7].…”