Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2004 Jun;25(3):211-8. Links
The beneficial effect of amalgam replacement on health in patients with autoimmunity.
Prochazkova J, Sterzl I, Kucerova H, Bartova J, Stejskal VD.
The Institute of Dental Research 1st Medical Faculty Charles University and General University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic. prochazkova@vus.cz
BACKGROUND: Patients with certain autoimmune and allergic diseases, such as systemic lupus, multiple sclerosis, autoimmune thyroiditis or atopic eczema, often show increased lymphocyte stimulation by low doses of inorganic mercury in vitro. The patients often report clinical metal hypersensitivity, especially to nickel. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: In this study we examined the health impact of amalgam replacement in mercury-allergic patients with autoimmunity. The suitability of MELISA, an optimized lymphocyte stimulation test, for the selection of susceptible patients and monitoring of sensitization was also examined. Amalgam fillings were replaced with composites and ceramic materials. Follow-up health status and lymphocyte reactivity were assessed and evaluated half a year or later following amalgam removal. RESULTS: Results of lymphocyte reactivity measured with MELISA indicate that in vitro reactivity after the replacement of dental amalgam decreased significantly to inorganic mercury, silver, organic mercury and lead. Out of 35 patients, 25 patients (71%) showed improvement of health. The remaining patients exhibited either unchanged health (6 patients, 17%) or worsening of symptoms (4 patients, 11%). The highest rate of improvement was observed in patients with multiple sclerosis, the lowest rate was noted in patients with eczema. The initial mercury-specific lymphocyte reactivity was significantly higher in the responder group, than in the non-responders, whose health was not improved by amalgam removal. All patients with health improvement after amalgam replacement showed reduced proliferation to inorganic mercury in follow-up MELISA. In vitro responses to phenylmercury and nickel did not differ between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Mercury-containing amalgam may be an important risk factor for patients with autoimmune diseases. MELISA is a valuable tool for selection of patients for amalgam replacement and also for monitoring of metal allergies.
: Gesundheitswesen. 2005 Mar;67(3):204-16. Links
Comment in:
Gesundheitswesen. 2006 Apr;68(4):e1-6; discussion e6-15.
[Amalgam risk assessment with coverage of references up to 2005]
[Article in German]
Mutter J, Naumann J, Walach H, Daschner F.
Institut für Umweltmedizin und Krankenhaushygiene, Universitätsklinik Freiburg. joachim.mutter@uniklinik-freiburg.de
Amalgam, which has been in use in dentistry for 150 years, consists of 50 % elemental mercury and a mixture of silver, tin, copper and zinc. Minute amounts of mercury vapour are released continuously from amalgam. Amalgam contributes substantially to human mercury load. Mercury accumulates in some organs, particularly in the brain, where it can bind to protein more tightly than other heavy metals (e. g. lead, cadmium). Therefore, the elimination half time is assumed to be up to 1 – 18 years in the brain and bones. Mercury is assumed to be one of the most toxic non-radioactive elements. There are pointers to show that mercury vapour is more neurotoxic than methyl-mercury in fish. Review of recent literature suggests that mercury from dental amalgam may lead to nephrotoxicity, neurobehavioural changes, autoimmunity, oxidative stress, autism, skin and mucosa alterations or non-specific symptoms and complaints. The development of Alzheimer’s disease or multiple sclerosis has also been linked to low-dose mercury exposure. There may be individual genetical or acquired susceptibilities for negative effects from dental amalgam. Mercury levels in the blood, urine or other biomarkers do not reflect the mercury load in critical organs. Some studies regarding dental amalgam reveal substantial methodical flaws. Removal of dental amalgam leads to permanent improvement of various chronic complaints in a relevant number of patients in various trials. Summing up, available data suggests that dental amalgam is an unsuitable material for medical, occupational and ecological reasons.
: Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2004 Oct;25(5):331-9. Links
Alzheimer disease: mercury as pathogenetic factor and apolipoprotein E as a moderator.
Mutter J, Naumann J, Sadaghiani C, Schneider R, Walach H.
Institute for Environmental Medicine and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Freiburg, Germany. jmutter@iuk3.ukl.uni-freiburg.de
The etiology of most cases of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is as yet unknown. Epidemiological studies suggest that environmental factors may be involved beside genetic risk factors. Some studies have shown higher mercury concentrations in brains of deceased and in blood of living patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Experimental studies have found that even smallest amounts of mercury but no other metals in low concentrations were able to cause all nerve cell changes, which are typical for Alzheimer’s disease. The most important genetic risk factor for sporadic Alzheimer’s disease is the presence of the apolipoprotein Ee4 allele whereas the apolipoprotein Ee2 allele reduces the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Some investigators have suggested that apolipoprotein Ee4 has a reduced ability to bind metals like mercury and therefore explain the higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Therapeutic approaches embrace pharmaceuticals which bind metals in the brain of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. In sum, both the findings from epidemiological and demographical studies, the frequency of amalgam application in industrialized countries, clinical studies, experimental studies and the dental state of AD patients in comparison to controls suggest a decisive role for inorganic mercury in the etiology of AD.
BJOG. 2003 Mar;110(3):287-91. Links
Maternal and neonatal hair mercury concentrations: the effect of dental amalgam.
Lindow SW, Knight R, Batty J, Haswell SJ.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Hull Maternity Hospital, UK.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate maternal and fetal hair mercury levels in relation to the placement of dental amalgam tooth restorations. DESIGN: Cross sectional study involving women who never had dental amalgam restorations placed, women who had amalgam restorations placed before pregnancy and women who had restorations placed during the index pregnancy. SETTING: North of England Maternity Hospital. SAMPLE: Fifty-three healthy women who delivered healthy babies at term. METHODS: Maternal and fetal hair was collected in a standardised manner in the first few days following delivery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Maternal and neonatal hair mercury concentrations. RESULTS: When compared with women without restorations, there was a significant increase in the maternal hair mercury concentration in women who had dental amalgam placed outside of the index pregnancy and also in women who had dental amalgam placed during the index pregnancy. The fetal hair mercury concentration was significantly higher in babies when mothers had been exposed to dental amalgam either before pregnancy or during pregnancy compared with unexposed babies. There was no difference in the maternal or fetal hair mercury levels in the groups of patients who had dental amalgam placed before or during pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal and fetal hair mercury levels were significantly higher in women who previously had dental amalgam restorations placed. There was no evidence that placement of dental amalgam restorations in pregnant women who had already similar restorations increased the maternal or fetal hair mercury level.
Toxicology. 2001 Jun 21;163(2-3):115-26. Links
Release of mercury from dental amalgam fillings in pregnant rats and distribution of mercury in maternal and fetal tissues.
Takahashi Y, Tsuruta S, Hasegawa J, Kameyama Y, Yoshida M.
Department of Dental Material Science, School of Dentistry, Aichi-Gakuin University, 1-100 Kusumoto-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8650, Japan. yoshi@dpc.aichi-gakuin.ac.jp
Mercury vapor released from a single amalgam restoration in pregnant rats and mercury concentrations in maternal and fetal rat tissues were studied. Dental treatment was given on day 2 of pregnancy. Mercury concentration in air sample drawn from the metabolism chamber with the rat was measured serially for 24 h on days 2, 8 and 15 of pregnancy. An average mercury concentration in the air samples from the rats given amalgam restorations was 678.6+/-167.5 ng/day on day 2. The average mercury concentration in the air samples tended to decline as time elapsed but a marked amount (423.2+/-121.5 ng/day) was observed even on day 15. The amount of mercury in the air samples increased 7–20-fold after chewing. The placement of the single amalgam restoration ( 3.8–5.5 mg in weight) increased the levels of mercury approximately three to 6 times in the maternal brain, liver, lung, placenta and 20 times in the kidneys. The highest mercury concentration among fetal organs was found in the liver, followed by the kidneys and brain. Mercury concentrations in maternal organs and fetal liver were significantly higher than those of the controls, and concentrations in maternal whole blood, erythrocytes and plasma, and in fetal whole blood were also significantly higher. Mercury concentrations in the fetal brain, liver, kidneys and whole blood were lower than those of the maternal tissues.
: Gesundheitswesen. 2005 Mar;67(3):204-16. Links
Comment in:
Gesundheitswesen. 2006 Apr;68(4):e1-6; discussion e6-15.
[Amalgam risk assessment with coverage of references up to 2005]
[Article in German]
Mutter J, Naumann J, Walach H, Daschner F.
Institut für Umweltmedizin und Krankenhaushygiene, Universitätsklinik Freiburg. joachim.mutter@uniklinik-freiburg.de
Amalgam, which has been in use in dentistry for 150 years, consists of 50 % elemental mercury and a mixture of silver, tin, copper and zinc. Minute amounts of mercury vapour are released continuously from amalgam. Amalgam contributes substantially to human mercury load. Mercury accumulates in some organs, particularly in the brain, where it can bind to protein more tightly than other heavy metals (e. g. lead, cadmium). Therefore, the elimination half time is assumed to be up to 1 – 18 years in the brain and bones. Mercury is assumed to be one of the most toxic non-radioactive elements. There are pointers to show that mercury vapour is more neurotoxic than methyl-mercury in fish. Review of recent literature suggests that mercury from dental amalgam may lead to nephrotoxicity, neurobehavioural changes, autoimmunity, oxidative stress, autism, skin and mucosa alterations or non-specific symptoms and complaints. The development of Alzheimer’s disease or multiple sclerosis has also been linked to low-dose mercury exposure. There may be individual genetical or acquired susceptibilities for negative effects from dental amalgam. Mercury levels in the blood, urine or other biomarkers do not reflect the mercury load in critical organs. Some studies regarding dental amalgam reveal substantial methodical flaws. Removal of dental amalgam leads to permanent improvement of various chronic complaints in a relevant number of patients in various trials. Summing up, available data suggests that dental amalgam is an unsuitable material for medical, occupational and ecological reasons.