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Germanium 

Germanium has gained popularity in recent years for its reputed ability 

to improve immune system function in cancer patients. It is available in 

the U.S. as a nonprescription dietary supplement in oral capsules or 

tablets, and has also been encountered as an injectable solution. Earlier 

inorganic forms, notably the citrate-lactate salt, led to a number of 

cases of renal dysfunction, hepatic steatosis and peripheral neuropathy 

in individuals using it on a chronic basis. Plasma and urine germanium 

concentrations in these individuals, several of whom died, were 

several orders of magnitude greater than endogenous levels. The 

more recent organic form, beta-carboxyethylgermanium sesquioxide 

(propagermanium), has not exhibited the same spectrum of 

toxic effects.

Precautions

As early as 1922, doctors in the United States used the inorganic 

form of germanium to treat patients with anemia.[73] It was used in 

other forms of treatments, but its efficiency has been dubious. Its 

role in cancer treatments has been debated.[74] U.S. Food and Drug 

Administration research has concluded that germanium, when used 

as a nutritional supplement, "presents potential human health hazard".

Germanium is not thought to be essential to the health of plants or 

animals. Some of its compounds present a hazard to human health, 

however. For example, germanium chloride and germane (GeH4) are 

a liquid and gas, respectively, that can be very irritating to the eyes, 

skin, lungs, and throat.[75] Germanium has little or no impact on the 

environment because it usually occurs only as a trace element in ores 

and carbonaceous materials, and is used in very small quantities in 

commercial applications.