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thereby leading to increased toxicity. stress further damages mitochondrial enzymes, Mercury
By damaging methylation enzymes, includ- as well as harming mitochondrial membranes
ing methionine synthase, mercury dysregulates and mitochondrial DNA. attacks the
the methylation cycle, a biochemical pathway Mitochondrial dysfunction can result in sulfur in the
in which the sulfur-containing amino acid, overproduction of lactic acid, yielding metabolic functional
methionine, is recycled, creating two impor- acidosis, which depletes minerals and may pro-
tant products: s-adenosyl methionine (SAMe), mote certain pathogens. Mitochondrial damage proteins
the body’s universal methylator; and cysteine, further drains cellular energy by creating a within cell
the precursor for the transsulfuration pathway, disproportionate need for repair, perpetuating a membranes.
which in turn produces glutathione, sulfate and vicious cycle. Mitochondrial dysfunction can
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taurine. By impairing the methionine synthase affect immunity, digestion, cognition and any One result
enzyme, mercury blocks not only detoxification energy-intensive system within the body and is altered
via the transsulfuration pathway that produces is a key component of many chronic illnesses. homeostasis
glutathione but also the production of many Oxidative stress perpetuates another vi-
hormones and neurotransmitters that require cious cycle in which free radicals cause lipid of many
methyl donors like SAMe. A lack of methyl peroxidation. In this self-propagating chain essential
donors also inhibits the activity of the DNA reaction, the unsaturated fatty acids in cell minerals.
methyltransferase enzymes, which regulate membranes are attacked, becoming free radicals
gene expression. themselves and ultimately leading to excess
In addition to attacking the sulfur in en- permeability in membranes and other barriers
zymes, mercury attacks the sulfur in the func- and provoking still more damage.
tional proteins within cell membranes. These
include membrane transport channels that allow MINERAL DYSREGULATION
micronutrients into cells. One result is altered As already mentioned, metallothioneins
homeostasis of many essential minerals, which are cysteine-rich metal storage molecules that
can appear abnormally high or low on testing appear to play a role in storing zinc and copper.
and is an aspect of many chronic illnesses that They are found in high levels in the intestines.
has no other obvious explanation. Mercury also When metallothioneins become saturated with
may target the disulfide bonds in collagen, the mercury, they can no longer store zinc or copper
connective tissue found in blood vessels, in the or protect the body from mercury.
gut and throughout the body. More importantly, It is much more common for mercury-af-
mercury impairs the ongoing synthesis and fected people to suffer from low zinc than from
repair of collagen, bone and cartilage, both by low copper, for several reasons. First, dietary
impairing the necessary enzymes and by de- sources of zinc are more limited than for cop-
pleting vitamin C, which is a required cofactor. per. Second, excess copper is excreted into the
Thus, mercury can be implicated in arthritis, bile and removed from the body via the feces,
osteoporosis and connective tissue disorders. but many people have sluggish bile flow and/
or constipation, causing copper to accumulate
OXIDATIVE STRESS in the liver. Additionally, estrogen dominance,
Mercury promotes oxidative stress in which may be amplified in mercury-affected in-
several mutually reinforcing ways. Within dividuals due to common hormonal imbalances,
cells, mercury concentrates in mitochondria, causes copper retention. Estrogen dominance is
the organelles that synthesize ATP (adenosine common, especially in women, due to exposure
triphosphate) energy. There, mercury displaces to plastics, soy, flax and other estrogenic foods,
iron and copper, converting them to free radicals as well as hormonal birth control products.
with the potential to cause ongoing oxidative Finally, copper pipes, copper IUDs and copper
stress unless buffered by antioxidants. Mercury sulfate sprayed on crops as an antifungal (even
also blocks mitochondrial enzymes, creating on many organic crops) add to the overall copper
an overproduction of reactive oxygen species, load. Because copper and zinc are antagonistic,
including free radicals. The resulting oxidative the more that copper is retained by the body, the

SPRING 2018 Wise Traditions 21