A new study by Ohio State Medical Center suggests a link between mercury and heart disease, traced to the activation of a relatively unknown enzyme, which triggers a process leading to plaque buildup in blood vessel walls. The same study also suggests that both antioxidants and chelation therapy, a treatment that removes metals from the body, may be the key to reducing the arterial injury caused by mercury, and possibly other heavy metals.

This study, published in a recent issue of the International Journal of Toxicology, examined three forms of mercury (inorganic, environmental and pharmaceutical) and found that all produce changes in the behavior of cells which line the blood vessel walls which can result in cardiovascular diseases.

Mercury acts as a catalyst for a complex sequence of events in the cell membrane that produces phosphatidic acid, which can damage cells in blood vessel linings, and is thought to contribute to vascular disorders. The research showed that metal chelators and antioxidants reduce the mercury induced activation of this process in the cells lining the blood vessels.

Thomas Hagele, first author of the study, said "Chelators overall did a better job than antioxidants at protecting against mercury".