Urine Metals Test Page of Optimal Health Medical, LLC's Web Site

Background Information about Toxic Metals

Our world has changed over the past century to such an extent that all of us are exposed to thousands of chemical substances over our lifetimes. Many of the toxic chemicals existing in our environment have been found to contribute to a wide variety of symptoms and medical conditions.

These conditions include cancer, heart disease, neurologic diseases, emotional/behavioral disorders, joint, muscle and bone disease, birth defects, hormonal disturbances, anemia and blood disorders, pulmonary disease, accelerated aging, and other problems too numerous to list here.

Toxic Metal DMSA Challenge

The specific test procedure is referred to as the Toxic Metal DMSA Challenge and involves administration of an oral chelating agent DMSA (Dimercaptosuccinic acid) which is an FDA-approved substance that mobilizes heavy metals, such as lead and mercury, from human tissues.

DMSA effectively competes with the tissue binding sites to release toxic metals that are normally sequestered in brain, bone, nerve, and liver. In the Toxic Metal DMSA Challenge, the total output of urine over the next 24 hours is collected, and the daily output of metals is determined.

Toxic metals and the levels of other minerals in the body are measured. These metals may include one or more of the following:

Aluminum
Arsenic
Boron
Cadmium
Calcium
Chromium
Cobalt
Copper
Lead
Magnesium
Manganese
Mercury
Molybdenum
Selenium
Vanadium
Zinc

Results from Toxic Metal DMSA Challenge tests serve to guide us in developing in an effective regimen to rid the body of the excess elements that are found. In addition, the overall results serve to point out which essential elements are found to be deficient in any particular case and, therefore, will need appropriate prescriptions for their replenishment.