Lead Poisoning

Lead Poisoning Symptoms

The following symptoms have been noted in individuals know to be lead poisoned:

General Symptoms of Lead Poisoning In Children and Adults:
- Stomach aches, cramping, constipation, or diarrhea
- Nausea, vomiting
- Persistent, unexplained fatigue
- Headache
- Muscle weakness
- Higher rates of tooth decay
Behavioral Symptoms of Lead Poisoning In Children
- Irritability or aggressiveness
- Hyperactivity, being easily distracted, impulsiveness
- Learning problems
- Lack of interest in play
- Loss of appetite
Behavioral Symptoms of Lead Poisoning In Adults
- Irritability
- Unexplained changes in mood or personality
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Inability to concentrate
- Memory loss

DMSA For Lead Removal and Treatment of Lead Poisoning Symptoms

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 safe removal (chelation) of lead and is known to improve lead poisoning symptoms. DMSA is considered the preferred agent for the chelation (removal) of lead in both adults and children. Lead is very toxic and the negative effects of lead exposure are well documented. There is no 'safe' level of lead in the human body. Lead poisoning symptoms are found in many individuals. Most don't even know they are toxic.
Meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) is also known as succimer and sold as a prescription under the trade name Chemet. 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.

Proof That DMSA Removes Lead and Helps With Lead Poisoning Symptoms

The following are actual patient results. The subject is a 46 year old female. These test results are from an independent lab called DoctorsData.

Note the incredible drop in the levels of mercury and lead! DMSA absolutely does remove Lead from the human body.

Urine test done BEFORE the start of DMSA treatment.	Urine test three months AFTER the start of DMSA treatment.

This patient is only part way through her lead removal. Her levels are dropping quickly, soon she will have no lead left in her body. Also note that tin was completely removed from her and her level of thallium was decreased along with cadmium and arsenic. DMSA is non-selective, it grabs any heavy metals that are in your body and removes them. If you have more than 2 of the lead poisoning symptoms listed above you might want to investigate further.

How Did I Get Lead In My Body?

There are several possible ways lead got into your body. Below each of the more common exposures will be discussed. Remember there are no safe levels for lead. Chelation (removal) of lead 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.
We are the lead generation. Adults with lead probably got it passed to them from their mothers invitro. Mom was exposed to lead from a variety of places, lead house paint, lead paint on dishes, leaded gasoline. It takes 4 generations to eliminate lead exposure if no agents are used to remove lead from the body.

Sources of Lead Exposure

1. Our parents, passed from mother to child in vitro
2. Old Homes (paint and lead pipes)
3. Painted Dishes
4. Toys from China
5. Canned Foods (lead solder)
6. Children's Jewellry
7. Contaminated Candy Imported from Mexico (from processing)
Lead is also present in a variety of different working locations such as mines and smelting plants. Even some cosmetics such as facial powders made outside of the USA contain lead.

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.