Mercury is well known as a pro-oxidant and contributor to degenerative disease. Part of mercury’s diabolical nature is its tendency to break down the very systems that are supposed to remove it, native antioxidant systems that are both chemoprotective and anti-aging. Unfortunately, failure to look at 1) the different forms of mercury we are exposed to, and 2) understand them in the context of the human detoxification system, leads at its worst to a polarity of either reckless or inefficient detoxification strategies. Understanding how to restore, manage, and augment these natural detoxification systems leads to a holistic detoxification with profound implications to the health of the organism.
THE HUMAN DETOXIFICATION SYSTEM
Efficient detoxification depends on a series of seamless reactions that bind toxins to shuttle molecules and “escort” them out through a series of doors. The glutathione system is the most important of the detoxification systems and includes glutathione and the enzymes that work with it. The process of detoxification proceeds in three parts or “phases”, Phase I, II, and III. Dysfunction of the human detoxification system is the most common and insidious root cause of toxic element and compound accumulation in the body. True health requires that all phases are functioning and balanced or the whole system can not work properly.
SUCCESSFUL DETOXIFICATION
Successful Detoxification of Mercury and other Heavy Metals (e.g. lead, cadmium, arsenic) requires Three Fundamental Conditions:
Fully-functioning Phase III detoxification transport system (MRP1&2, OATP)
Fully-functioning Phase II enzyme, Glutathione S-transferase (GST)
Adequate intracellular glutathione levels
Quicksilver Scientific’s Therapeutic Detoxification System is the ONLY detox system to specifically target all detoxification requirements!
DISRUPTIONS IN NATURAL BODY-WIDE DETOXIFICATION
Intestinal inflammation inhibits elimination of toxins by causing a strong down-regulation of the body’s natural detoxification pathways. Unfortunately, exposure to certain toxins, such as the corrosion by-products of dental mercury amalgam (“silver” fillings) contributes
to intestinal inflammation. In addition to inflammation, it has been demonstrated that a build up of metals alone slows the transport proteins. The data suggests that continuous removal of metals from the intestines is essential for the proper daily functioning of natural detoxification processes. The continuous removal of metals is also critical for any successful practitioner-directed detoxification program.
IMPAIRED DETOXIFICATION
Downregulation of toxin transporters
Downregulation of Phase II detoxification enzymes
Underexpression of cellular antioxidants
Relative overexpression of oxidative Phase I enzymes
Systemic toxicity and oxidative stress! Increased susceptibility to chronic dis-ease!
Christopher Shade, PhD obtained B.S. and M.S. degrees from Lehigh University in environmental and aqueous chemistry. Dr. Shade earned a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois where he studied the environmental and analytical chemistries of mercury as well as advanced aquatic chemistry. During his Ph.D. work, Dr. Shade patented analytical technology for mercury speciation analysis and later founded Quicksilver Scientific, LLC in order to commercialize this technology. Shortly after starting Quicksilver Scientific, Dr. Shade turned his focus to the human aspects of mercury exposure/ toxicity and the human detoxification system. He has since developed specific clinical analytical techniques for measuring mercury exposure and a system of products for toxic metals removal.