Zeolites: Risks, Side Effects, and Safety Information

Written by Stephanie Watson
Medically Reviewed by Shruthi N, MD on April 15, 2025
8 min read

Zeolites are a group of crystal-like, porous minerals made up of aluminum, silicon, and oxygen. About 50 different zeolites are found in nature. Another 150 more types are made in labs. 

The word zeolite comes from the Greek words "zeo," which means to boil, and "litos," which means stone. These minerals formed inside volcanic rock called basalt. As volcanoes erupted many, many years ago, the lava compressed layers of rocks. Underground water interacted with the rock to form zeolites.

What makes zeolites unique is their network of tiny little holes and channels, which absorb and remove harmful substances like heavy metals (lead, mercury, cadmium), ammonia, and other toxins from water. Some scientists call zeolites "molecular sieves." 

Their filtering ability has made zeolites useful in many different industries, including water purification and nuclear waste management. Some people take zeolite supplements to improve their health. These supplements are marketed as a treatment for conditions like cancer, diarrhea, and autism. Yet there's no scientific evidence to show that zeolites help with any medical condition, and taking them could have risks.

Zeolites have many industrial and environmental applications. They're used in:

  • Water and air purification 
  • Wastewater treatment
  • Cat litter
  • Laundry detergent
  • Air fresheners
  • Nuclear waste management
  • Animal feed

These minerals have many properties that might make them useful in medicine. Zeolites help to detoxify or remove harmful substances. They may also act as antioxidants, stimulate the immune system, and kill cancer cells.

Medical researchers are studying zeolites to:

  • Deliver drugs into the body
  • Regrow bones that were damaged (for example, by cancer)
  • Make vaccines
  • Treat cancer
  • Remove heavy metals from the body

Cancer prevention and treatment

Zeolites have gained interest in the scientific community as a possible treatment for cancer. In lab and animal studies, zeolites increased levels of proteins that slow the growth of cancer cells. They also reduced the effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS), harmful substances that can damage DNA and lead to cancer. 

Other animal studies showed that zeolites reduced the spread of cancer and increased the effects of the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin. But so far, there isn't any evidence to show that zeolite prevents or treats cancer in humans, and there are no FDA-approved cancer treatments that contain zeolites.

Zeolites might be a more targeted way to deliver cancer drugs like chemotherapy to specific organs or tissues. Thanks to their many tiny holes, these minerals release medicine slowly over time instead of all at once. This could help treat cancers like colon cancer, because many drugs get destroyed quickly in the digestive system, before they have a chance to work.

Diarrhea treatment

Diarrhea happens when there's too much fluid in the intestines. The extra water makes poop looser than usual. Researchers are studying zeolites as a treatment for diarrhea because they can pull fluid out of the digestive tract. In one very small study, an anti-diarrhea drug called Detoxsan containing zeolites improved diarrhea in people with a rare cancer of the GI tract. These findings still need to be confirmed in larger studies.

Zeolites might also help treat diarrhea by strengthening the intestine wall in people with leaky gut syndrome. That's when tiny holes form in the gut lining, allowing substances from the bloodstream to leak into the intestines. Diarrhea is one symptom of a leaky gut.

Wound dressing

Another possible use for zeolites is in wound care. Products containing the zeolite clinoptilolite may help reduce inflammation in the skin, prevent infection, and help wounds heal faster. Animal studies have shown promising results, but this treatment still needs to be confirmed in human trials.

Scientists are also studying zeolite as a way to quickly stop bleeding in people with injuries. Because it absorbs water, zeolite may help to concentrate platelets and blood clotting factors at the site of an injury and help clots form more quickly.

We are exposed to heavy metals like mercury, lead, and cadmium in our environment, in the foods we eat, and through the soil. Over time, those metals build up inside our bodies and can harm our health. 

Because zeolite is porous, the hope is that it might bind to these heavy metals and pull them out of the body. Supplements sold online and promoted by influencers advertise zeolites as a detox that cleanses the body of heavy metals and other toxins.

Yet there's no evidence proving that zeolites do remove heavy metals from the body. For that reason, the FDA has sent warning letters to companies that sell zeolite detoxes for making misleading claims about their products.

Zeolites and autism

Many zeolite detox products, including gummies and liquids, are marketed as a treatment for children with autism. They are promoted as a kind of chelation therapy – a treatment that uses a chemical called a chelator to bind to and remove toxic metals from the body. But there's no evidence they work.

There is no cure for autism. And while FDA-approved medicines are available to treat autism symptoms, zeolite isn't one of them. Chelation therapy is an approved treatment – but for lead poisoning and iron overload, not autism. The claims from makers of zeolite supplements are "deceptive and misleading," according to the FDA.

"We don't know if zeolites detox anything. And more importantly, there's no evidence that people with autism need to be detoxed," says Alycia Halladay, PhD, chief science officer of the Autism Science Foundation. No research has shown that people with autism have higher levels of substances like heavy metal and plastic in their bodies. "So what the detox is for is not scientifically valid, and the people who have been recommending it … they're actually paid social media influencers," she adds.

Animal and some human studies suggest that zeolites can stimulate the immune system. In a small study of people with a weakened immune system, a supplement containing the zeolite clinoptilolite increased the number of infection-fighting cells in their blood. That immune boost may also help fight cancer cells.

While zeolite has shown promise as a treatment, it has not been proven to work and no zeolite treatments are approved by the FDA. When you buy zeolite products that have no evidence to back them up, "You're just pouring money down the drain," Halladay says. 

These products also come with possible risks. Some zeolites, like erionite, contain fibers that harm the lungs. They might increase the risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma – a rare type of cancer that forms in the lining of the lungs. 

Other possible risks of zeolites include:

  • Pulmonary fibrosis – damage and scarring in the lungs 
  • Pneumoconiosis – lung disease from breathing in dust and fibers
  • Interactions with antibiotics, chemotherapy drugs, immune-suppressing drugs, or other medicines that could affect how well these medicines work

Zeolites aren't well studied. They haven't been proven safe or effective as a treatment for cancer, autism, or any other condition.

Watch for warning signs in products you're thinking about buying, like claims that it's a "cure-all" for you, cautions Halladay. And see who's endorsing the product. If the only evidence you find about a product comes from a friend or paid influencer, that's a red flag. The best place to get medical advice is from a doctor or other health care professional.

Zeolites are porous minerals that have a wide range of industrial and environmental uses. Researchers are studying supplements containing zeolites for preventing and treating cancer, as well as other conditions. As of now, no zeolite supplement has been proven to work for any medical condition.

What are the health risks of zeolite?

Zeolite hasn't been proven safe as a treatment for autism, cancer, or other health conditions. Some types of zeolites contain fibers that can damage the lungs and other organs, and possibly increase the risk of lung cancer. These minerals might also interact with certain medicines and make them less effective.

Does zeolite really remove heavy metals from your body?

Zeolites contain tiny holes that pull out toxic substances like heavy metals. That's why they're used to purify water and treat wastes. Whether zeolites have the same effect in humans is unproven. A few small studies noted reduced levels of toxins like mercury and cadmium in people who took zeolite supplements, but we need more research to confirm whether zeolite really does remove heavy metals from the body. 

Is zeolite safe for your kidneys?

Data from animal studies suggests that zeolites might harm the kidneys. This hasn't been confirmed in human studies.

What effects does zeolite have on the brain?

Zeolites are being studied for their protective effects on the brain. One area where they may help is in Alzheimer's disease. In one study, zeolite supplements reduced damage and plaque buildup in the brains of mice with Alzheimer's. Another way they might help is by improving the health of the gut microbiome. Studies have linked a healthy gut with a healthy brain. Zeolites have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and other protective effects on the gut that might help people with Alzheimer's disease. But any brain benefits from this supplement haven't been confirmed.

Is zeolite carcinogenic?

Erionite, one kind of zeolite, is made up of fibers that you can breathe into your lungs. Having these fibers in your lungs increases the risk of mesothelioma and other types of lung cancer. Zeolites may also interact with some chemotherapy drugs that treat cancer and make them less effective.

Does zeolite thin the blood?

No, zeolite doesn't thin the blood. It may actually help the blood clot more quickly to stop bleeding from a wound.

What are the forms of zeolite?

About 50 different zeolites are found in nature, and more than 150 types are made in labs. Examples of zeolites are clinoptilolite, analcime, mordenite, and chabazite. Zeolite supplements come as powders, capsules, gummies, liquids, and creams.

Does zeolite absorb radiation?

Yes. Zeolite can remove radioactive material from the environment. For this reason, it's used as a treatment for nuclear and other radioactive wastes.

Does zeolite remove microplastics?

Microplastics are tiny pieces or fibers of plastic that get into the food and water supply and could harm our health. Researchers are studying whether zeolite can remove microplastics and other contaminants from the water supply.

Is zeolite good for your hair?

Some shampoos contain the zeolite clinoptilolite. These products claim to absorb oil and give the hair more volume and shine, but it's hard to confirm whether they actually work.