REID-LINE Scientific Services CC

5 Flamingo Vlei Village TEL: (021) 557 2774

Stilt Avenue FAX: (021) 557 2774
FLAMINGO VLEI MEMBER: G. T. Reid CELL: 083 444 2496
7441 Reg. No. CK 98/26906/2 E-Mail: gtr001@telkomsa.net

FAX/E-MAIL TRANSMISSION
COMPANY: H2O International

ATTENTION: Tony Marchesini

DATE: 27 November 2003

FROM: Gordon Reid

ORGANIC MINERALS VS INORGANIC MINERALS

A considerable level of confusion exists today about this topic. The confusion predominantly
stems from people not fully understanding the true meaning of the words; Organic and Inorganic.

Very simply explained an Organic Substance is made up of Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H) Nitrogen
and Oxygen (O). An Organic mineral is defined as a mineral such as Iron (Fe), Potassium (K) or
Sodium (Na) for example, which is bond or linked to an Organic substance. Inorganic minerals
in contrast are not linked to organic substances and exist as the Inorganic compound. Examples
of such Inorganic Minerals are Iron Chloride (Fe Cl2), Potassium Chloride (KCl), and Sodium
Chloride (NaCl).

The body can assimilate both Organic and Inorganic minerals. It is in fact easier for the body to
absorb Inorganic minerals since Organic minerals have to be “extracted” from the Organic
compound before it can be assimilated into the body. In contrast Inorganic minerals are readily
and immediately available for assimilation into the body.

Take Sodium Chloride (NaCl) for example, which is fully classified as an Inorganic compound
and commonly known as salt. It is readily, easily and fairly instantaneously, directly absorbed
through the stomach. If a large quantity of salt water or seawater is consumed one will
eventually die due to and excess intake of the NaCl. Additional examples of Inorganic minerals,
which are readily absorbed by the body, are the Calcium and Magnesium present in dolomite
rock. Dolomite tablets are available from health shops and are sold as a Calcium and Magnesium
supplement.

In contrast again take the bulk of the Iron (Fe) present in spinach, which exist in spinach as a
complex Iron-Organic compound. This Iron is classified as being fully organic, but yet is
completely unavailable for assimilation into the body, since the Iron-Organic compound cannot
be metabolised. The Iron-Organic complex from spinach passes straight through the body and is
picked up analytically, unaltered, in the stools of the applicable subject or lover of spinach.
 2

Magnesium in itself is interesting. It is only found in nature in the Inorganic state and does not
form organic complexes. Even when Magnesium is present in food, it is always found in the
Inorganic state and dissolved as a Magnesium Salt, in the water present in the food. This mineral
is essential to ensure efficient Calcium absorption and additionally on its own, maintains normal
blood pressure and reduces irregular heartbeat. Magnesium has the ability to regulate and
tranquillise the nerves and plays a role in the prevention of tooth decay, as it binds Calcium to
tooth enamel. It is also essentially required in the brain and linked to memory storage and
hormone production.

The reason why Aluminium (Al) is linked to Alzheimer’s disease (a disease of memory loss) is
because it behaves similarly to Magnesium. The body and plants for that matter, absorbs
Aluminium like Magnesium and once in the body, Aluminium interferes with the Magnesium
processes and hence memory.

I hope the above brief discussion will shed some light on the difference between Inorganic and
Organic minerals.

Yours sincerely

Gordon Reid
B.Sc. (Chem.), B.Sc. Hon. (Analytical Sc.), B.Sc. Hon. (Hydro Sc.)