Well, apparently it doesn't remove brain mercury to any clinical degree. Perhaps to a certain extent it can. But like you said, not as effective as ALA. This would also explain why those who fail to get any further with DMSA, start making further improvements with ALA.

One lady I know of chelated and did well with DMSA, but could not get rid of certain stubborn symptoms (possibly brain related). She chelated with ALA and was able to get rid of them.

So yeah, I certain feel DMSA is more effective than people may realise (stronger), but more maybe required for those with significant brain/organ mercury that the DMSA may not be able to penetrate/chelate enough.

Andy doens't believe that iodine chelates mercury, nor selenium. However, my own experience and symptoms from both tell me it certainly does SOMETHING with metals and seem to cause a detox indirectly from displacing metals/competing for binding sites. Because mercury will sit where these elements should be. Replacing them, then displaces the metals. So you can get some redistribution symptoms.

I am of the believe that if you replace the elements/minerals/antioxidants that mercury interfers with, depletes or blocks the action of, then it is expected that a certain amount of that mercury may come out in the process. If the body gets what it needs, then it does a much better job of eliminating toxins and no doubt some metals too.