Dr. Brent Wagner
Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis & Gadolinium Retention Expert
Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, UNM School of Medicine | Renal Section Chief, New Mexico VA Health Care System | Director, Kidney Institute of New Mexico
Researcher, not a treating GDD clinician. He does not take patients for gadolinium treatment.
Background
Dr. Brent Wagner is a native New Mexican and a graduate of the University of New Mexico (1990, 1992), the University of New Mexico Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program (1995), and the University of New Mexico School of Medicine (1999). He is a certified specialist in Internal Medicine and Nephrology. Dr. Wagner is a world-renowned expert in nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, gadolinium retention, and nanotoxicology. His laboratory was the first to prove experimentally that bone marrow-derived white blood cells (fibrocytes) are involved in NSF (nephrogenic systemic fibrosis — a rare scarring disease of the skin and organs seen in people with severe kidney disease), and he was the first to demonstrate that bone marrow possesses a "memory" of gadolinium exposure—fibrosis is more severe in those who have had repeated MRI contrast administrations. His groundbreaking research has shown that oxalic acid, found in many foods, can generate nanoparticles of gadolinium in human tissues, which may explain why some individuals develop severe symptoms while others do not. Dr. Wagner leads an international patient registry to identify risk factors for gadolinium-related complications.
Approach
Dr. Wagner's research has revealed a critical finding: oxalic acid can cause gadolinium to precipitate out of contrast agents and form nanoparticles in the body. This discovery points to dietary factors that may significantly impact gadolinium toxicity. His approach emphasizes understanding the metabolic milieu that may predispose individuals to nanoparticle formation and severe disease responses. He recommends avoiding high-oxalate foods and vitamin C supplements before MRI scans with contrast, as these can react with gadolinium and potentially form harmful nanoparticles.
Related reading: Oxalates and gadolinium nanoparticles.
What Works/Helps
- •AVOID OXALATES! This is the main recommendation from Dr. Wagner's research. Oxalic acid, found in many plant-based foods, can generate nanoparticles of gadolinium in human tissues
- •Avoid high-oxalate foods: spinach, rhubarb, most nuts, berries, chocolate, and other plant-based foods containing oxalic acid
- •Avoid vitamin C supplements before MRI scans with contrast, as vitamin C can form oxalic acid in the body, which reacts with gadolinium
- •Understanding your metabolic state: Some individuals may be in a "high oxalic state" that makes them more prone to gadolinium nanoparticle formation
- •Participate in research: Dr. Wagner's team is building an international patient registry to identify risk factors. Contact the Kidney Institute of New Mexico to learn more
- •Comprehensive assessment: Evaluation of medical conditions, medications, and dietary supplements at the time of gadolinium exposure to understand individual risk factors
- •Monitoring for nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF): Especially important for patients with compromised kidney function, as NSF can be severely disabling and potentially fatal
How to Take Part in His Research
To join the registry, contact the Kidney Institute of New Mexico: Julie A Harris at JuHarris@salud.unm.edu | Dr. Wagner is based at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and the New Mexico Veterans Administration Health Care System in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Research Registry
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LEGACY OF LATENCY: THE NATURAL HISTORY OF SYMPTOMS STEMMING FROM TOXIC EXPOSURES
HRRC ID 24-413. People are exposed to toxicants, including metals, from the environment (such as in drinking water) or as patients in the healthcare system (such as gadolinium). This registry tracks the history of medically unexplained symptoms and, if any, related to toxic exposures. We will obtain your history and conduct a physical examination during your participation. We will ask for a 24-hour urine collection to measure toxicants (e.g., gadolinium) and time this with exposure—e.g., the administration of the magnetic resonance imaging contrast. We will also obtain other samples (blood, nail clippings, and hair tufts) to analyze how metal exposure triggers chemicals that may promote disease. You are free to provide any additional information relevant to your symptoms. We will repeat blood, urine, hair, and nail testing at 6-month intervals. By participating in this registry, we aim to define the natural history of medically unexplained symptoms and how these relate to toxic exposures. Your participation in this research will last for the duration of the study. Upon completion participants will receive a $50 Merchandise Card. We are conducting this registry through the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine.
We are looking for people who fit the following criteria:
- •Adults 18 years of age or older
- •Willing and able to comply with a scheduled 90-minute visit, blood sample collection, and urine collection
Contact: If you are interested in participating and think you may qualify, contact the Kidney Institute of New Mexico: Julie A Harris at JuHarris@salud.unm.edu
Key Research: Nanoparticles & Oxalic Acid
University of New Mexico Health Sciences News (2025)
UNM Scientists Discover How Nanoparticles of Toxic Metal Used in MRI Scans Infiltrate Human Tissue“This nanoparticle formation might explain why there's such an amplification of the disease. When a cell is trying to deal with this alien metallic nanoparticle within it, it's going to send out signals that tell the body to respond to it.”
University of New Mexico researchers studying the health risks posed by gadolinium—a toxic rare earth metal used in MRI scans—found that oxalic acid, a molecule found in many foods and formed in the body from vitamin C, can cause minute amounts of gadolinium to precipitate out of contrast agents and form nanoparticles that infiltrate human tissues. This mechanistic finding helps explain why some individuals have such severe, amplified symptoms after gadolinium exposure and provides a clear rationale for Dr. Wagner’s recommendation to reduce high-oxalate intake and avoid vitamin C supplements around MRI scans with contrast.
Want the practical breakdown? See the Oxalates page.
