The functional medicine community swears by this test. I had a friend who had one of these done which allegedly showed off the chart mercury on his results. Naturally, his functional med doc wants to treat him with DMSA, which will allegedly “pull” out the metals? I’ve tried to read up on this and it’s above my mental comprehension. Please help so I can explain this to by buddy in a convincing manner!
In: Biology
From a toxicologist at the University of Arizona School of (real) Medicine:
> Human volunteer studies demonstrate that mercury is detected in the urine of most people even in the absence of known exposure or chelator administration, and that urinary mercury excretion rises after administration of a chelator, regardless of exposure history and in an unpredictable fashion. Studies also demonstrate that challenge testing fails to reveal a “body burden” of mercury due to remote exposure. Chelating agents have been associated with adverse reactions. **Current evidence does not support the use of DMPS, DMSA, or other chelation challenge tests for the diagnosis of metal toxicity. Since there are no established reference ranges for provoked urine samples in healthy subjects, no reliable evidence to support a diagnostic value for the tests, and potential harm, these tests should not be utilized.**
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13181-013-0350-7
People who do not have a financial interest in these tests and study it purely from a scientific standpoint say not to use it, their only incentive is patient health and they have solid credentials.
The functional medicine people don’t care about evidence and just want to take your friend’s money. Everyone has mercury in their pee and it’s meaningless. There is no established reference range, so there is no such thing as “off the chart.”
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