Fish are a source of methyl mercury poisoning. Dental amalgams are a source of elemental mercury poisoning. Chronic mercury exposure can damage the kidneys.
Antioxidants protect people from neurological and kidney toxicity caused by mercury. Alpha-lipoic acid, antioxidants and glutathione relieve the symptoms of heavy metal toxicity and help remove heavy metals from the body.
Inorganic mercury combines with glutathione in the liver and is secreted in the bile, which the liver produces, while some mercury is eliminated in the urine. The process of detoxification can deplete glutathione and this depletion plays a role in neurological damage. In fact, the author states that low levels of glutathione have been found in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Complexes of glutathione and mercury are found in the urine and the bile.
Cysteine acts as a carrier of mercury to help remove it from the body.
Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is a very good heavy metal chelator. It is able to cross the blood-brain barrier and can remove mercury from the brain. ALA has been given orally up to 600 mg. three times a day without ill effects. Doses of 500-1000 mg. per day are commonly used in studies. ALA increases the bodies’ levels of glutathione.
CONCLUSION: Alpha-lipoic acid, glutathione and cysteine are natural chemicals in the body that play a part in protecting the body from the effects of mercury poisoning and help detoxify mercury from the body. They are available in the form of supplements.
PMID: 12495372.
Summary #068.
