DMPS is a chelator and stands for a sodium salt of 2,3 Di-Mercapto-1-Propane-Sulphonic acid. This means that DMPS can bind certain substances like heavy or toxic metals, including mercury and lead. As wel as certain minerals including zinc, copper and iron. DMPS can also release these substances from body depots. It is therefore used to detoxify the body of mercury and lead. [1]
DMPS is absorbed into the body and (in particular) excreted via the urine. The maximum concentration in the blood is reached after 30 to 50 minutes. The maximum excretion of the metals / minerals with the urine is achieved after 2 to 3 hours. With the substances that it binds to it, the DMPS forms a stable water-soluble complex.
In the DMPS test the mentioned properties of DMPS are used to determine the body's load with mercury. The amount of mercury excreted with the urine after intake of DMPS has been found to be a good measure for the body load with mercury.1 The DMPS test indicates (in addition to the concentration of mercury in the urine) the amount of mercury per gram of creatinine in the urine. Creatinine is excreted in the urine at a relatively constant rate that is independent of the amount of urine produced. The amount of mercury per gram of creatinine is a better measure than the mercury concentration in the urine (ppb) because the amount of mercury per gram of creatinine is not affected by the amount of urine produced.
In order to obtain the best possible impression of the body's load with mercury, the amount of mercury in two samples is determined: a sample of the morning urine (from before the intake of the DMPS capsule, the basic value). And a urine sample of 2-3 hours after the intake of the DMPS capsule. The mercury value of this last sample gives an impression of the amount of mercury in the body depots compared to the morning urine sample.
Because DMPS can also bind nutrients from the diet (and even has a greater affinity for zinc and copper than for mercury), it is important that the DMPS capsule is taken on an empty stomach immediately after the morning urine sample has been identified. When the DMPS binds minerals from the diet, it can bind less mercury, so that the measured value can be too low.