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A primary objective of preventive medicine is avoidance or removal of exposure
to heavy "toxic" substances.
Toxic Metals can be detected either through the analysis of urine or fecal
material.
URINE TOXIC METALS
See Sample Report
Urine toxic and essential elements analysis is an invaluable tool for the
assessment of retention of toxic metals in the body and the status of essential
nutrient elements. Toxic metals do not have any useful physiological function,
adversely affect virtually every organ system and disrupt the homeostasis of
nutrient elements.
Analysis of the levels of toxic metals in urine after the
administration of a metal detoxification agent is an objective way to evaluate
the accumulation of toxic metals. Acute metal poisoning is rare. More common,
however, is a chronic, low-level exposure to toxic metals that can result in
significant retention in the body that can be associated with a vast array of
adverse health effects and not chronic disease. One cannot draw valid
conclusions about adverse health effects of metals without assessing net
retention. For an individual, toxicity occurs when net retention exceeds
physiological tolerance. Net retention is determined by the difference between
the rates of assimilation and excretion of metals. To evaluate net retention,
one compares the levels of metals in urine before and after the administration
of a pharmaceutical metal detoxification agent such as EDTA, DMSA or DMPS.
Different compounds have different affinities for specific metals, but all
function by sequestering “hidden” metals from deep tissue stores and mobilizing
the metals to the kidneys for excretion in the urine.
The doctors at CCNM may
also request the analysis of essential elements in urine specimens to evaluate
nutritional status and the efficacy of mineral supplementation during metal
detoxification therapy. Metal detoxification agents can significantly increase
the excretion of specific nutrient elements such as zinc, copper, manganese, and
molybdenum.
FECAL TOXIC METALS
See Sample Report
For many toxic elements such as mercury, cadmium, lead, antimony and uranium,
biliary excretion into the feces is the primary natural route of elimination
from the body. Fecal elemental analysis also provides a direct indication of
dietary exposure to toxic metals. Specimen collection is convenient for the
patient and only requires a single-step procedure.
The rate of oral absorption of toxic metals varies considerably among elements,
and among subspecies of a particular element. Fecal elemental analysis can
provide a direct indication of dietary exposure. Orally, the percent absorption
of nickel, cadmium and lead is usually quite low, but varies significantly in
part due to the relative abundance of antagonistic essential elements in the
diet. That is particularly evident for lead and calcium, and cadmium and zinc.
Chronic, low-level assimilation of the toxic metals can result in significant
accumulation in the body. The results of fecal elemental analysis can help
identify and eliminate dietary exposure to toxic metals.
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