Re: The science of ALA and Mercury

this study shows that ALA definitely does form a stable bond with Mercury. what's interesting is that the study also shows ALA does not chelate zinc copper or lead, while DMSA does

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The reactions of 1, 3-dimercaptopropane, lipoic acid, and dihydrolipoic acid with metal ions*1

Phyllis R. Brown† and John O. Edwards


Abstract

Solid compounds of α-lipoic acid with Hg2+, and of dihydrolipoic acid and 1,3-dimercaptopropane with Ni2+ and Hg2+ have been prepared. For comparative purposes, qualitative studies have been carried out on the reactions of other metal ions (Zn2+, Cu2+, Co2+ and Pb2+) with these sulfur compounds. With lipoic acid, the product formed readily with Hg2+, but photolytic or thermal cleavage of the disulfide link was necessary before any isolatable products were formed with the other cations. With dimercaptopropane and dihydrolipoic acid, products were formed with all the cations. The importance of these systems is related to the use of lipoic acid in the treatment of heavy metal poisoning.
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