What is Chelation Therapy?Chelation Therapy is a mainstream treatment that is used to treat heavy metal poisoning. However, this term is also used to promote a type of alternative therapy that is supposed to treat heart disease, cancer, and other conditions. It most often involves the injection of ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), a chemical that binds (chelates) heavy metals which include iron, lead, mercury, cadmium, and zinc. The term "chelation" comes from the Greek word "chele," which means claw, referring to the way the chemical grabs onto these metals. Overview This is one of several effective treatments for lead poisoning. However, available scientific evidence does not support claims that it is effective for treating other conditions such as cancer. It can be toxic and has the potential to cause kidney damage, irregular heartbeat, and even death. How Is It Promoted for Use? The injection with EDTA has been approved by the FDA as a treatment for lead poisoning for more than 40 years. The human body can’t break down heavy metals, which can build up to toxic levels in the body and interfere with normal functioning. EDTA and other chelating drugs lower high blood levels of metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and zinc by attaching to the heavy metal molecules, which helps the body remove them through urination. Because EDTA can reduce the amount of calcium in the bloodstream, some practitioners suggest it may help reopen arteries blocked by mineral deposits (hardening of the arteries, or atherosclerosis). They claim it is an effective and less expensive alternative to coronary bypass (‘open heart’) surgery, angioplasty, and other techniques designed to unclog blocked arteries. It has also been promoted as an alternative treatment for many unrelated conditions, such as gangrene, thyroid disorders, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, psoriasis, diabetes, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, and the improvement of memory, sight, hearing, and smell. Some alternative practitioners further claim that it can be used as a cancer treatment to remove ‘environmental toxins’ from the body or to block the production of a group of harmful molecules called free radicals (unstable oxygen molecules, which can cause cell damage). Available scientific evidence does not support these claims. What Does It Involve? This therapy is most often given into a vein (intravenously), either as a short injection or over a period of 2 to 4 hours. A typical treatment cycle may include 20 injections or infusions spread over 10 to 12 weeks. In addition, it can also be given by mouth. Practitioners recommend at least 20 to 40 treatments to start; however, some may recommend continued therapy for up to 100 treatments over a period of several years. Because the therapy removes some important minerals from the body, patients often receive high-dose vitamin and mineral supplements during treatment. What is the History Behind It? The chemical solution used, EDTA, was first made in Germany in the 1930s. It is now widely accepted as an effective treatment for heavy metal poisoning. In the 1950s, some scientists had a theory that EDTA could remove calcium from the body (which can build up on artery walls and cause heart disease) and thereby help to unclog blocked arteries. In some early studies, researchers reported positive results among patients with heart disease who received EDTA. Some say that it may relieve angina (chest pain) caused by blocked arteries. These first observations have not been backed up by larger, more rigorous studies, but some practitioners have begun using this therapy for heart and circulatory problems and later, for several other illnesses. In 1998, the Federal Trade Commission charged the American College of Advancement in Medicine (ACAM), the principal group promoting this therapy, with presenting false advertising and unsubstantiated statements about its benefits. The ACAM agreed to stop publishing any claims that were not based on reliable scientific evidence. What is the Evidence? This is a proven treatment for lead poisoning and poisoning from other heavy metals. However, available scientific evidence does not support claims that the treatment benefits patients with cancer, heart disease, or any medical problems other than heavy-metal poisoning. Cancer: There are no published studies that reliably show benefit from using EDTA against cancer. Some laboratory studies have suggested that certain agents that chelate copper or iron (chelating agents other than EDTA) may have an effect on cancer cells or on the formation of tumor blood vessels. In a small clinical trial, researchers studied iron chelating agents to see if they would reduce the growth of neuroblastoma (a type of cancer in infants and young children) in mice. The results, published in 1998, concluded that EDTA therapy did not shrink tumors. Few studies of the use of chelation therapy against cancer in humans have been published in peer-reviewed medical journals. These few studies have been small and have not shown a significant level of effectiveness. Research studies continue in this area. Heart and Vascular Disease: Randomized clinical trials have found that EDTA therapy drugs did not benefit patients with impaired circulation in their legs. In 1993, a review of all chelation therapy studies reported during the previous 37 years concluded that scientific data did not support claims that the treatment was useful for treating heart problems. Studies published since then have generally reached the same conclusion. A very large, placebo-controlled study sponsored by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) is now under way and should provide a more definitive answer as to whether EDTA therapy has any effects on heart disease. Several well respected organizations have found no scientific evidence that chelation therapy is an effective treatment for any medical condition except heavy metal poisoning, including: the American Heart Association, American Medical Association, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Osteopathic Association, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the FDA. Are There Any Possible Problems or Complications? Available scientific evidence does not support claims that chelation therapy is a safe treatment for any type of cancer. Chelation therapy may produce toxic effects, including kidney damage, irregular heart beat, and swelling of the veins. It may also cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and temporary lowering of blood pressure. Since the therapy removes minerals from the body, there is a risk of developing low calcium levels (hypocalcemia) and bone damage. Chelation therapy may also impair the immune system and decrease the body's ability to produce insulin. People may also feel pain at the site of EDTA injection. Chelation therapy may be dangerous in people with kidney disease, liver disease, or bleeding disorders. Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should not use this method. Chelation therapy is often given along with large doses of vitamins and other minerals, which may actually contribute to the processes that produce dangerous free radicals in the body. Loss of zinc can also lead to changes (mutations) in cells. For this reason, chelation therapy may actually increase the risk of cancer. The possible interactions between chelation therapy and prescription or over-the-counter medicines are not entirely known. Relying on this type of treatment alone, and avoiding or delaying conventional medical care, may have serious health consequences. For More Information, from the American Cancer Society, call 1-800-ACS-2345.
Source:
American Cancer Society, Inc.
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