Toxic Metals in Myalgia/Anxiety

Summary

Two cases of toxic heavy metal accumulation.

This content was created by the Metametrix Institute

History

CASE 1

51-year-old male
The patient complained of chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia for decades with increasing muscle pain in recent months. He has had a diagnosis of Gilbert’s disease. He has no unusual toxic metal exposure identified.

His Organic Acids profile was near normal in all areas. Only mild signs of low levels indicating limited amino acid flux through liver and renal catabolic pathways were found. The DMSA provocation urine elemental profile, however, revealed high levels of multiple toxic metals.

This case illustrates the individual variation in tendency to accrue toxic metals. He had a particularly high exposure of lead, with significant accrual or body burden of multiple toxic metals. Those who show this degree of accrual may have experienced periods of poor glutathione status, possibly due to insufficiency of amino acids (especially methionine.) Such impaired glutathione status interrupts normal toxic metal removal. Normal exposure to toxic metals might then become a problem because the removal processes cease to function adequately.

CASE 2

37-year-old male

This patient has near-normal Organic Acid and Fatty Acid profiles. His mercury level jumped from only slightly high to extreme elevation over the course of two years, during which time he experienced increasing difficulty with aches, pains, cramping, and anxiety along with increasing bouts of uncontrollable anger, especially when he was tired.

The symptom clusters are heaviest in areas of (1) cellular energy production, (2) central and peripheral nervous system function, and (3) immune function. All three areas are well known to be associated with the toxic effects of mercury.

As the mercury level shot up, his erythrocyte potassium fell from high normal of 2867 to 731 ppm, and his calcium rose from a normal 6.8 to a highly elevated 26.8 ppm. The GlutamicAcid/Glutamine ratio was consistently elevated.

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Description of Results

Patients with such patterns frequently have neurological symptoms such as anxiety or agitation. High erythrocyte calcium indicates ionic balance and calcium pump difficulties that combine with a tendency for heightened excitatory response of glutamic acid. The sum of the metabolic effects creates havoc for normal brain function. Meanwhile mercury is exerting its poisoning effects on enzymes and cell regulators.

Bouts of uncontrollable anger might be due to the toxic effects of mercury. However,
potassium levels of 731 ppm in erythrocytes compared to the excellent status on the initial test shows a probable effect of exhaustive exercise and the neurological impact that is bound to exacerbate already disturbed neuronal function.

As with the previous case, the primary revealing evidence is found in the analysis of elemental status. The toxic effects of heavy metals exert their poisoning effects independent of other nutrient deficiency factors. These two individuals happen to be well informed about proper diet, and one of them is in the upper echelon of individuals relative to physical training. He has periods of extreme physical stress due to a rigorous training schedule. The other is in a highly stable and constant environment. They both have experienced the subtle, insidious effects of toxic heavy metal accumulation, and they will probably require many months of metal detoxification to return to high level of wellness.

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