high mercury, low glutathione, poor detoxer (α-Ketophenylacetic Acid, α-Hydroxyisobutyric Acid)

[drew]

A recent nutraeval test I revealed the following:

1) mercury is 6 times the upper limit
2) glutathione is rock bottom
3) 'Toxin & Detox Markers' α-Ketophenylacetic Acid (from Styrene) and α-Hydroxyisobutyric Acid (from MTBE) is borderline high

Is a mercury serum RBC test just as valid or more valid than a hair sample test?

I'm not sure what to address first. Clearly all three problems are connected.

 

[Hanna]

Serum RBC will be usefull to verify if there is an acute mercury toxicity, not a chronic one. Heavy metals escape the blood and have great affinity for tissues (especially those who are loaded with lipids, like the brain).

Generally, you have to do a provocation test with DMPS to delocate mercury, and then measure it in urine, but it may be very uncomfortable in the case you are loaded with heavy metals.

 

[drew]

Would hair analysis be the best option then for heavy metal detection?

 

[Hanna]

I don't know. I had a hair analysis done several years ago. The result showed a very heavy load of lead, which is completely logical with years of handling lead pigments without protection. So I tend to think it is somehow useful.
You have to follow good guidelines in order to minimise bias (like not using types of shampoos etc. I don't remember, sorry, but you may find some more info on previous threads).

 

[Johnmac]

Hair tests are regarded by Dr Cutler as the closest thing to a reliable test for mercury toxicity. But they require skilled interpretation. This is available on the Frequent Dose Chelation Yahoo group - which is the best place to be for mercury questions.

Injected provocation tests can be dangerous: dmpsbackfire.com