Our bodies are constantly exposed to an onslaught of environmental
toxins. Lead and mercury are two heavy metals that seem to have found their
way into almost everyone. Lead and mercury do not occur naturally in the body
and as such are very toxic. These two heavy metals are known to interfere with
how nerves communicate. Meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) is a compound
approved in the 1960's by the FDA for the removal (chelation) of heavy metals.
DMSA is considered the preferred agent for the chelation (removal) of heavy
metals in both adults and children. Mercury is considered to be the second most
toxin substance on the planet (uranium is #1) and the negative effects of lead
exposure are well documented.
Meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) is also known as succimer
and sold as a prescription under the trade name Chemet. DMSA is also sold as
an over the counter nutritional supplement in some areas. DMSA has a somewhat
strong sulfur like smell. It's chemical properties make it particularly suited
to chelate (remove via excretion) mercury and lead, the two most common toxic
heavy metals in people.
One of the main advantages of DMSA is its large therapeutic window. This means there is a wide margin between the amount necessary to produce the intended result and the level that could potentially overload the patient. This makes DMSA exceptionally safe.
How Did I Get Heavy Metals (Mercury and Lead) In My
Body?
There are several possible
ways heavy metals got into your body. Below each of the more common exposures
will be discussed. Remember there are no safe levels for heavy metals. Chelation
of toxic heavy metals with DMSA is well documented in the scientific literature.
There are several other chelation agents but DMSA so far as been proven to be
the safest and most effective.
Mercury
There are 4 main sources
of mercury poisoning:
1. In Vitro, passed from
mother to baby
2. Vaccinations
3. Dental Amalgams or 'Silver
Fillings'
4. Contraception Pills
and Contact Lense Solution
1. In Vitro
A mother with mercury in her body
will pass it into her baby. The level of mercury in the tissue of the fetus,
newborn, and young children is directly proportional to the number of silver
fillings in the mother’s mouth.
2. Vaccinations
Vaccinations are the #1 mercury exposure
in infants, and the #2 exposure in adults.
25% of vaccines today still contain mercury.
Flu shots still contain
mercury.
When mercury is removed from
flu shots, it is replaced with other heavy metals such as aluminum and formaldehyde.
Mercury is used as a preservative
in vaccinations. Vaccinations are currently a hot topic of debate with some
parents linking autism to vaccinations. Flu shots contain mercury also, as a
preservative. According to the EPA the average child can tolerate 0.3 micrograms
of mercury. Note that a 2 month old infant receiving all 4 scheduled vaccinations
(DtaP, Polio, Hib, Hepatitus B) will have a mercury level of 62.5 micrograms, 125 times higher than the EPA 'safe' level.
3. Dental Amalgams or 'Silver Fillings'
Amalgam fillings leech methyl-mercury
into your body. Methyl-mercury is particularly dangerous as its attracted to
tissues and organs and can actually cross the blood brain barrier and get into
your brain.
Fact: Most major
countries other than the U.S. have extensive bans and health warnings regarding
the use of amalgam fillings. This includes Austria, Australia, Canada, France,
Great Britain, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland
Fact: In 1988 scrap
dental amalgam material was declared a hazardous waste by the EPA (Environmental
Protection Agency). OSHA has certain mandates present to handle amalgam fillings
before going into and out of your mouth. The OSHA guidlines include:
Scrap amalgam must be stored
in an unbreakable, tight sealed container away from heat.
Use a 'no-touch' technique for
handling the amalgam
Store under liquid, preferably
glycerin or photographic fixer solution
Here is a quick, informative video
explaining how mercury from dental fillings gets out of the filling and into
your body:
As the movie clearly shows, activities such as brushing your
teeth and drinking hot liquids can increase your exposure to methyl-mercury
(mercury vapor) from 10 to 100 times.
What about fish? There is inorganic mercury in fish but the
amount that actually ends up in the human body from fish consumption is very
low and has been blown out of proportion by the media.
4. Contraception Pills
and Contact Lense Solution
Mercury used to be used in both of these products. It has since been discontinued. Using these products in the 1980's would have exposed you to mercury, which in turn would be passed from mother to child.
Lead
Lead is one of the most prominent metals you will see on any
tests. Our parents were part of the lead generation, it takes 4 generations
to eliminate their exposures. Sources include leaded paint, leaded gasoline,
painted dishes, toys from China, candy from Mexico, children's jewelry, and
canned foods to name just a few. The point is if its in your body you need to
get it out. DMSA is able to effectively chelate lead from the human body.
Lead is particularly toxic to children, leading to Attention
Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Hyperactive Disorders. Their growing nervous system
is negatively impacted by chronic and acute lead exposure. DMSA has been shown
to be safe for use in children. The 24 hour urine challenge should be done before
and after a DMSA chelation program. During the Urine Challenge, DMSA is used
as the provoking agent to measure the level of lead in the body.
DMSA Chelation
The chemical process behind
how DMSA works to chelate heavy metals from the body is somewhat technical and
beyond the scope of this article. The basic mechanism is that DMSA has receptor
sites that the heavy metals bind to. New research suggests the following action.
Heavy metals reside inside the cells of the body and DMSA cannot enter the cells.
Instead glutathione (the body's natural chelator) residing inside the cell pushes
the metals out of the cell whereby they are picked up by DMSA and excreted.
Now you might say can't I just take a glutathione supplement and force more
heavy metals out of the cell? The answer is no because naturally occurring glutathione
levels are 100 higher inside the cell than outside. Any glutathione supplement
you take will end up circulation around the outside of the cell only. What you
need to do instead is take the precursor for glutathione so you body will manufacture
its own glutathione. One known pre-cursor (the chemical that allows your body to make its own glutathione) is N-AcetylCysteine, abbreviated as NAC. Glycine also plays a large role in the production of glutathione, which is why its in the DMSA Synergy product.
DMSA should be taken in
on again and off again cycles. Ideally 3 days on and 11 days off. The reason
is that the body needs 11 days to regenerate its glutathione levels.
Three days on and 11 days off is the fastest and safest way to use DMSA to chelate
heavy metals.
DMSA and the Blood Brain Barrier
As previously stated DMSA
can NOT cross the blood brain barrier. One study exists with lab rats wherein
the DMSA did cross the blood brain barrier. However these test animals were
so toxic that their normal functioning was greatly impaired. The results have
never been duplicated so its safe to say that DMSA cannot cross the blood brain
barrier. DMSA must be taken in conjunction with alpha-lipoic acid to cross the
blood brain barrier. After you have chelated the heavy metals from your body
(know as 'lowering your body burden') you should then add alpha-lipoic acid with your DMSA to pull the mercury and
other metals from your brain.
DMSA is taken in capsule
form. Other competing forms of chelation, namely ETDA (suppositories) and DMPS
(intraveniously) are more dangerous and less effective. DMSA
is thought to remove small amounts of beneficial minerals, therefore a vitamin
and mineral supplement such as a high quality multi vitamin should be taken in conjunction
with DMSA.
These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to
diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always consult with your health
care professional before undertaking any course of treatment.