This is an excellent question.

And the subject complex.
Firstly is the controversy about mercury in fillings and their removal. From what I can see in studies I've read, it is the removal of the fillings that place a huge load of the metal on the body.
I've seen some pretty dramatic websites with dramatic patient histories. So I do believe in the potential for harm. But I don't think everyone suffers from amalgams equally.

Today I can't really search much now, but I have found a HUGE complex article I will try and get thru before I leave for our 5 wk vacation when I will be off line.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m...g=content;col1
This is the big article.

This is another which says lipoic acid is used up by a mercury load:
http://www.mercuryfreenow.com/layperson/symptoms.html

Here is another .... by a respected site:
http://www.thorne.com/altmedrev/.fulltext/7/6/456.pdf

And this one suggests treatments using lipoic acid:
(has other names, thiotic acid, thiols, etc).
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17408840

When searching PubMed you might use thiotic acid instead of lipoic acid.

At this point, I think using caution, and low doses, and watching your response, is the best way to see how you react. If you improve and are much better, I hardly think you are being poisoned. 100mg a day of the new stablilized form, is not a high dose. The Japanese use lipoic acid heavily, and have done so for years. And they eat alot of fish, and have even had mercury accidents in the past.

I sure don't have any of the signs of mercury toxicity and I have a few big fillings too. My PN is better today than it has ever been. I've been using the stabilized lipoic acid since last year, 100mg a day. (200mg I cannot tolerate..it makes me jittery).

The mention of selenium and zinc is important. I recall reading about a mercury factory where the workers (someplace in Europe) avoided mercury toxicity because of their selenium intake.
example:
http://www.eatingwell.com/diet_healt...st_mercury_tox

One can go bonkers looking at the various sides of this issue.
Mercury from high fructose corn syrup... yes this is a real problem

Mercury from tuna, etc.

Some reports are that mercury toxicity is highest only in new fillings and when they are removed. Grinding teeth, is also supposed to release mercury as well. But I don't know how to evaluate those types of statements either.