Ingested Dyed Cellulose in the Blood and Urine of Man

Abstract

Reports of particulate matter within the conjunctival vessels motivated a search of blood and urine for previously unrecognized particles. Originally plant particulates were found as contaminants of many commonly used solutions and as airborne contaminants, so that purification and concentration techniques utilizing the grid membrane filter and fastidious methods of preventing contaminants had to be developed. Some of these same particles were still evident even after elaborate preparative techniques.

To establish their dietary origin and further circumvent the argument that the various vegetable particulates might still be contaminants, dyed plant foods were given orally and matching colored fibers were found in the blood and urine. No colored fibers were ever seen in persons consuming the same unstained plant foods.