DMSA Supplement - Dimercaptosuccinic Acid Chelator for Heavy Metal Detox

DMSA, or dimercaptosuccinic acid, is recognised as being a potent chelator.

What is the process of chelation?

That means it is able to bind to metal elements to form a stable complex which can then be eliminated from the body easily via the urinary tract. This process of chelation is commonly used to rid the body of heavy metals such as mercury, lead, arsenic and cadmium. Hence the frequent use of DMSA-based treatments for heavy metal poisoning. DMSA not only chelates mercury in the blood, liver and kidneys, but can also cross the blood-brain barrier and eliminate toxic deposits even from the brain.

According to Sir Arnold Takamoto, one of the leading specialists in mercury poisoning, complete detoxification can take up to 2 or 3 years, depending on the toxic load and the patient's state of health, but taking DMSA orally is the safest and most effective method.

What is DMSA composed of?

DMSA’s heavy metal-chelating action comes from its composition. The presence of several sulphur atoms in its structure means it is actually an organo-sulphur compound. Although sulphur is an essential element for humans, it can also form thiol groups by binding to hydrogen atoms, as is the case, for example, with DMSA. Indeed, it is the two thiol groups of DMSA which are able to bind to metal cations such as mercury (Hg2+), lead (Pb2+), arsenic (As3+) and cadmium (Cd2+). Once attached to DMSA, these heavy metals can be eliminated from the body via urine.

Why is DMSA supplementation important?

Throughout our lives, we are exposed to toxins which can accumulate in the body and produce detrimental effects. Such is the case with heavy metals like mercury, levels of which have risen over recent decades due to modern industrial development. Exposing the body to numerous complications, the accumulation of heavy metals has gradually become a genuine public health issue. It would therefore seem sensible to reduce our exposure to, and eliminate, heavy metals in order to prevent them from building up and causing us harm. The good news is that options are available to help us do that, such as oral chelation with DMSA.

Modern industrial methods have polluted and poisoned the planet, leading to an accumulation of heavy metal toxicity in our bodies. This has resulted in an array of health problems such as anaemia, memory loss, cancer, depression, male infertility, gingivitis and perhaps even multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease. Certain questionable medical practices, such as dental amalgam, clearly aggravate the problem. Fortunately, there are safe and effective ways of chelating mercury, lead, arsenic and cadmium and eliminating them from the body.

Treatment with DMSA dates back to the 1950s when it was used as an antidote to mercury poisoning. A natural, non-toxic product, DMSA is often described as the most effective chelator of mercury. It has similarly proved effective against poisoning by other heavy metals such as lead, arsenic and cadmium. Studies also suggest that DMSA facilitates the elimination of metals such as copper and zinc.

How is DMSA administrated?

Unlike other chelators which have to be administered intravenously, DMSA has the advantage of being water-soluble and can thus be taken orally. Simple to use and effective, DMSA is now available to buy in dietary supplement form, specifically formulated to contain 100mg of DMSA per capsule. Given its effect, however, DMSA must be used with caution. It is advisable to seek advice from a health professional before taking it. Depending on your needs and your doctor’s advice, the dose is 1-2 capsules twice a day, every other day. An article in the journal Nutranews recommends, for example, that individuals weighing over 50 kilos take two capsules, morning and evening, on alternate days.

You may also be interested in other metal chelator supplements such as EDTA and Zeolite Clinoptilolite, both of which are available from the SuperSmart catalogue. For optimal detoxification, there is also a formulation which combines the compounds fulvic and humic acids. Known for its ability to chelate and eliminate heavy metals, this Ayurvedic combination is now offered in the form of the dietary supplement Humic & Fulvic Acids.