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more that zinc tends to be depleted. overload. Additionally, copper dysregulation is a key factor in ADHD.
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Mercury induces anomalies in the transport Many studies likewise report a close association between zinc deficiency
of essential minerals such as magnesium and and clinical depression, with severity of symptoms inversely correlated
zinc that cause an extra need for these minerals with serum zinc levels. Decreased levels of zinc, calcium, iron and se-
in the diet. Furthermore, many health conditions lenium have been reported as risk factors for postpartum depression.
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caused by mercury toxicity are aggravated by Other neurological and psychiatric disorders associated with mercury
low magnesium and/or zinc, including cardio- include narcolepsy, obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar
vascular disease, fibromyalgia, autism spectrum disorder, Tourette syndrome and borderline personality disorder, as well
disorder (ASD), attention deficit disorders and as neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s
depression. Not every person with a history of disease and multiple sclerosis. Each has been documented to involve
mercury exposure is deficient in all of these oxidative stress, inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction and mineral
nutrients, however, and it is important to note imbalances, all of which can be attributed to mercury. These diseases
that minerals have complex synergistic and an- are complex, such that human studies are unlikely to find a direct causal
tagonistic relationships. As we have just seen, link with any one risk factor that is strong enough to satisfy skeptics, but
low zinc is often accompanied by high copper, a growing body of evidence suggests that mercury plays a major role. 41
and low magnesium is often accompanied by Exacerbating the mineral dysregulation associated with these many
high calcium in soft tissues. conditions are the neurotransmitter imbalances provoked by mercury.
For example, mercury increases extracellular levels of the excitatory
NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS neurotransmitter glutamate, thus overactivating glutamate receptors on
Health authorities persist in citing a subset cell surfaces. The amplification of glutamate is further exacerbated by
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of studies that have failed to find a causal link mercury’s inhibition of the calming neurotransmitter GABA. Mercury
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between ASD and mercury, and the asso- blocks GABA receptors, disproportionately destroys GABA-producing
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ciation remains a taboo subject in mainstream Purkinje neurons and impairs glutamate decarboxylase (GAD), the
medicine and the media. Nonetheless, many enzyme responsible for converting glutamate to GABA. Furthermore,
other studies suggest a connection, and such a mercury’s dysregulation of glutamate and GABA is associated with
link is widely viewed as biologically plausible. depression and suicide. 21,43,44
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Autism is documented to involve oxidative
stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, immune ALTERED MICROBIOTA, DIGESTIVE
or inflammatory processes, impaired sensory DYSFUNCTION AND IMMUNE HEALTH
processing and abnormal mineral homeosta- Mercury is known to alter the intestinal microbiota, yielding in-
sis, all of which are consistent with mercury creased levels of undesirable mercury-resistant bacterial species, which
toxicity. Autistic children have been found to may also develop resistance to antibiotics. 37,45,46 For example, the op-
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have significantly higher exposure to mercury portunistic yeast, Candida albicans, may overgrow, causing a host of
during fetal development and early infancy, as unpleasant symptoms. This dysbiosis may be exacerbated by mercury’s
measured by metals in baby teeth. Individuals dysregulation of the immune system as well as its promotion of metabolic
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with ASD also are frequently deficient in zinc. acidosis. All of this has negative implications for digestion, immunity
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Other commonly observed mineral imbalances and mental health. 47-49
in ASD include low calcium, iron, magnesium, Mercury also inhibits several enzymes affecting digestion, including
manganese and selenium, as well as high copper gastric hydrogen-potassium-ATPase, the enzyme that allows the syn-
and elevated toxic metals, although these can thesis of hydrochloric acid via the stomach’s proton pump. In addition,
sometimes be difficult to detect through testing, by promoting oxidative stress, mercury moves the autonomic nervous
as described later. system into sympathetic (stress) mode, inhibiting digestion. Furthermore,
Attention deficit disorder (ADD) and the mitochondrial dysfunction from which many mercury-affected in-
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) dividuals suffer impairs digestion as well as other bodily functions. By
are common early findings in mercury-exposed damaging both the gut and the blood-brain barrier, mercury leads to
children. Zinc deficiency has been identified leaky gut, which in turn leads to food allergies and brain disorders caused
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as a biomarker for ADHD, and the abnormal by maldigested proteins entering the bloodstream. As a fairly common
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mineral profile for ADHD appears quite similar case in point, partially digested proteins in foods containing gluten and
to that for autism and mood disorders, with the casein may be metabolized into the opioid peptides, gluteomorphin and
exception that ADHD typically includes iron casomorphin. This is often seen in children with ASD and explains
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22 Wise Traditions SPRING 2018