Glutathione
What removes mercury??? Glutathione..that's it (plus a few co-factors to make the glutathione-based enzymes needed). Let me say this again for those who aren't paying attention. GLUTATHIONE!..glu-ta-THIGH-own...remember that...its critical.
Boyd E. Haley PhD is in my opinion THE authority on mercury, its ramifications and how to get rid of it. Dr. Haley has taught graduate level chemisty/biochemistry since 1974 most recently at the University of Kentucky School of Medicine. He also held the Chair of chemistry at U of K for years. He is currently president and CEO of CTI Sciences. Full Bio Here
It's through thorough reveiw of the literature and his own in depth research that Dr. Haley is the expert he is. In fact, if they ever re-named the Greek God, Mercury...it should be to Haley...hmmmm..but then comet confusion??? Maybe not...but I digress...
To quote Dr. Mark Hyman (website)..an astute practitioner of Functional Medicine from his paper "The Impact of Mercury On Human Health and The Environment":
"Dr. Haley believes that fish is not as big a contributor to mercury toxicity in humans as amalgams because methylmercury is generally excreted quickly while mercury vapor from amalgams is not. He reported on the dramatic rise in autism rates, over 900% in less than a generation in California and 714% nationwide. The use of drugs to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) of all ages has increased 49% in the past 3 years, while their use has increased 369% in children under five years old. He reported on the dramatic increase in autism rates in California since the introduction of
the hepatitis B vaccine in 1990 and an increase in the overall vaccination schedule. In 1999, thimerosal was removed from vaccines as parents gained increased awareness of the issue. In the first three quarters of 2004 the data showed a decline in the incidence of autism in California for the first time.
Dr. Haley reported on the toxicity of thimerosal. It is quickly converted to ethylmercury in the body where it moves rapidly from blood to brain. Mercury is lipophilic and concentrates in the brain; therefore, blood levels are not an accurate measurement of total body burden of mercury. Genetic polymorphisms(structural changes determined by our genes) of glutathione disulfide (GSST) prevent excretion of mercury. Mercury can only be excreted when complexed with glutathione (GSH). If it cannot be eliminated because GSH or GSST is lacking, then the mercury stays in tissues and does damage. Thimersol inhibits methionine synthease and methylene reductase and thus has significant effects on the body’s ability to methylate and to produce glutathione.
Dr. Haley has observed that the lowest level of Hg is found in the birth hair of the most severely affected autistic children. The 4:1 ratio of autism in males:females may be in part due to the effects of testosterone on mercury excretion.
Antibiotics also prevent excretion of mercury, and antibiotic use is higher among autistic children."
Glutathione is a very powerful antioxidant, functional in both phases of liver detoxification. If it is used up in Phase I in the free radical process as an antioxidant, then not enough is left for Phase II.
Actually some of the chemistry of most concern with respect to mercury detox is the 'preservation' of glutathione, so it's there to do what we need most - bind with mercury and help the liver excrete it. One of the best ways to do that is to have other antioxidants do what GSH would otherwise do with respect to free radical squelching, saving it for mercury.
Here is where we run into another problem. In days gone by, our bodies used antioxidants provided to us via our food...fruit and vegetables. Today, however, big business agriculture develops hybrid plants, developed to travel well, look pretty in the grocery store, but in fact their actual nutrient density stinks. You are just NOT getting what you pay for unless you eat completely organically and preferrable indigenously grown food. Good luck with that.
Section 5 - OSR#1-The Best Antioxidant On The Planet
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