Research: Mercury Toxicity and Digestive Disorders
When intestinal permeability is increased, food and nutrient absorption is impaired. Dysfunction in intestinal permeability can result in leaky gut syndrome, where larger molecules and toxins in the intestines can pass through the membranes and into the blood, triggering immune response. Progressive damage can occur to the intestinal lining, eventually allowing disease-causing bacteria, undigested food particles, and toxins to pass directly into the blood stream.
Dysfunctions in intestinal permeability have been found to be associated with diseases such as:
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Leaky gut syndrome (LGS)
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Ulcerative colitis
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Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
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Crohn’s disease
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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
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Eczema
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Psoriasis
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Food allergies
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Autoimmune disease and
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Arthritis
Symptoms commonly associated with LGS include:
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Abdominal pain
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Indigestion
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Diarrhoea
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Anxiety
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Chronic joint pain
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Chronic muscle pain
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Mental confusion
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Mood swings
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Poor memory
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Poor immunity and recurrent infections
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Bloating and
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Fatigue.
Although there are also other causes of LGS, mercury and toxic metals have been found to be common toxic exposures that can cause increased intestinal permeability and intestinal dysfunction, as well as of the kidney epithelial and brush border cells. Mercury exposure also reduced the mucosal entry of sugars and amino acids to 80 - 90% of control levels in the small intestine cells within several minutes. Mercury exposure blocks intestinal nutrient transport by interacting directly with brush border membrane transport proteins. Mercury also causes increase of inflammatory cytokines such as TNFa, IL-6, and IL-1b.
Mercury causes significant destruction of stomach and intestine epithelial cells, resulting in damage to stomach lining which along with mercury’s ability to bind to SH hydroxyl radical in cell membranes alters permeability and adversely alters bacterial populations in the intestines causing leaky gut syndrome with toxic, incompletely digested complexes in the blood and accumulation of Helicobacter pylori, a suspected major factor in stomach ulcers and stomach cancer and Candida albicans, as well as poor nutrient absorption.
Dental amalgam has been found by thousands of medical laboratory tests and by medical studies to be the largest source of mercury exposure in most people who have several amalgam fillings. Replacement of amalgam fillings and metals detoxification have been found to significantly improve the health of most with conditions related to bowel dysfunction and leaky gut syndrome.
Other common causes or factors in leaky gut and the related conditions include food allergies and intolerances; drugs (such as NSAIDs, aspirin, stomach H2 blockers, steroids); dysbiosis (overgrowth of harmful organisms due to antibiotic use and/or low probiotic levels); chronic alcohol consumption; toxic exposures and chemical sensitivity; chronic infections and inadequate digestive enzymes.
While food allergies mediated by IgE can cause significant health effects including leaky gut syndrome, these are usually easily identified by the immediateness of reactions or skin tests. Food intolerances mediated by IgG also commonly cause significant health effects including leaky gut syndrome, but the reactions are delayed and can be systemic and are harder to identify. Tests based on IgE such as skin test or RAST do not reliably identify such problems that are common factors in chronic health conditions and tests such as ELISA that measure both IgE and IgG are more reliable.
Common causes of food intolerances include failure to breast feed babies for at least the first year of life, feeding table food in the first year of life, use of antibiotics without adequate addition of probiotics and eating the same foods every day. Food intolerances and food additives or processed foods that contain additives such as glutamate, aspartame, high-fructose corn syrup or dyes are common causes of leaky gut syndrome and neurological conditions such as ADHD.
Food intolerances and IgG reactions lead to long lasting “immune complexes” that are factors in leaky gut related conditions as well as conditions such as Lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, CFS, fibromyalgia and ADHD. Inflammatory reactions to toxic metals, vaccines, food additives, food intolerances not only cause immune reactions but also reactions in the neurological microglial system. This can cause brain fog, memory problems, and degenerative neurological conditions if prolonged chronic exposures. For example virtually 100% of those with schizophrenic symptoms in schizophrenia, autism and ADHD, are found when tested to have food intolerance to wheat gluten or milk casein. Enzymatic blockages by chronic toxic metal exposures such as vaccines or mercury have been found to be a factor in these food intolerances. Similarly this is the most common cause or factor in coeliac disease and common cause of ataxia and diabetes.
Similarly food allergies or additives, food intolerances, high sugar consumption, and antibiotic use without adequate probiotics have been found to be the most common causes of children’s ear infections. Clinical studies have found that diets high in flavonoids, carotenoids, and including nutritional supplements such as buffered Vitamin C and natural E, selenium, omega-3 oils, probiotics are effective in preventing ear infections and other chronic conditions. These in addition to multiple B vitamins, the flavonoids curcumin, hesperidin, and quercetin are effective in preventing and treating leaky gut related conditions.
Crohn’s disease usually occurs at a relatively young age and results when an immune or autoimmune response causes increased inflammatory cytokines like TNFa, IL-6, and IL-1b, resulting in inflammation of the ileum or colon. This usually results in thinning of the bowel wall and often formation of ulcers on the intestinal lining. Functional neutrophil deficiencies are often a factor in Crohn’s disease. In addition to improvements in many patients after amalgam replacement and detoxification, diet and nutritional measures are usually effective at improving Crohn’s Disease.
The 4-R program has seen good success in many patients. The program removes all foods where there is suspicion of allergy that might produce inflammation. Common allergens include wheat/gluten, dairy, eggs, peanuts, tomatoes, corn, and red meat. Additionally elimination of gastrointestinal parasites, undesirable bacteria, fungus, and yeasts are carried out. Sometimes a treatment such as Nystatin is used to eliminate yeast. Then vital nutrients are replaced by dietary measures and supplementation of a good multivitamin and mineral, minerals found deficient such as iron, magnesium, calcium, selenium, zinc, iodine and vitamins such as B-complex, B6, B12 and folic acid. Next the intestines are re-inoculated with friendly bacteria (Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus. Finally measures are taken to repair the intestine to correct for the increased permeability. This is done by adding nutrients such as glutamine, pantothenic acid (B5), zinc, FOS, and vitamin C. DHEA and Butyrate have also been found effective in many patients at reducing inflammation.
Supplements and other treatments that reduce intestinal permeability have also been found to be protective against and to improve these conditions. Glutamine, berberine, probiotics, and vitamin D have been found to decrease intestinal permeability and protect against effects caused by leaky gut syndrome. Butyrate has been found to inhibit inflammation and carcinogenesis in the intestines and low butyrate levels are found in colon cancer, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease. Butyrate and phosphatidylcholine have been found to be protective against these conditions, and increased fibre content in diet promotes increased butyrate levels, through the effect on fermentation pattern.
Brain inflammation or hypoglycaemia related to toxic metal exposures and food intolerances have been found to be common causes of ADHD, impulsivity, juvenile delinquency, criminality, and violence. Detoxification, diet measures, and supplementation for deficient vitamins and minerals have been found to usually improve such conditions.
"As an Australian dentist I have been on a similar journey to you with health issues relating to occupational mercury poisoning. I have recently installed mercury safe protocols in my practice and your site will aid me to educate the dentists who work for me that I have not gone crazy and am on the tight track. Thanks Alison for putting your site together - what a treat of information!"
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