Mercury
What This Test Measures
Toxic metal from fish, dental amalgams, environment
Conventional vs. Functional Optimal Range
The gap between these ranges is why you feel terrible with "normal" labs. Conventional medicine waits for disease. Functional medicine optimizes for health.
Gabriel's Take
Mercury (especially methylmercury from fish) is neurotoxic. Higher blood mercury usually reflects eating a lot of high-mercury fish; a 24-hour urine test is best for mercury from fillings or work. Symptoms: tremor, cognitive decline, neuropathy. Sources: large fish, amalgam fillings, environment. Amalgam fillings release small amounts of mercury vapor, but the FDA does not recommend removing intact fillings unless medically necessary, because removal briefly raises exposure. Lower-mercury fish and finding the source come first; chelation is a clinician's decision.
When This Test Is High
Mercury toxicity, neurological damage, kidney damage
When This Test Is Low
Low body burden
Related Conditions
Neurological symptoms, tremor, cognitive decline, kidney disease
Recommended Follow-Up
Identify the source (high-mercury fish, work); choose lower-mercury fish; a clinician decides on any chelation. Don't remove intact amalgam fillings to lower mercury (FDA)