Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid, or EDTA, is a manmade amino acid designed to chelate, or bind, with certain particles in the human body, according to the American Heart Association. EDTA chelation therapy is most commonly used as a treatment for poisoning from heavy metals such as mercury or lead but is also advocated by some as an alternative treatment for various other conditions. The procedure has risks, and some may be life-threatening.
Death
Deaths have been reported as a result of EDTA chelation therapy, according to the American Heart Association. Although the procedure is used as a treatment for purging toxins, EDTA can be toxic--even fatally--the American Cancer Society says. The Mayo Clinic says some recorded deaths have occurred during the course of studies into the effectiveness of EDTA chelation therapy. An article published in the Medscape Journal of Medicine says newspaper articles and court documents indicate at least 30 deaths related to EDTA chelation since the mid-1970s. Some of these deaths may be related to hypocalcemia, or dangerously low calcium levels, as EDTA can chelate calcium in the bloodstream, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Bad Drug, Vitamin and Supplement Interactions
In its use as a poisoning treatment, EDTA is supposed to bind with substances that are harmful to the body, making it easier to pass them out of the body in urine. However, the University of Maryland Medical Center says the amino acid can also chelate substances that are helpful, including magnesium, iron, vitamin C and calcium. Ensuing deficiencies of these assets may lead to various other medical conditions. EDTA may also cause other types of interactions--as with the antibiotic cefmetazole, which may absorb at a higher rate during chelation therapy.
Blood Pressure Drop
The American Heart Association, American Cancer Society and Mayo Clinic all warn that chelation therapy with EDTA may cause a sudden and dangerous drop in blood pressure. Administering physicians should monitor blood pressure levels throughout the process and for some time afterward, standing ready with the appropriate medications to regulate blood pressure if necessary.
Kidney Damage
Renal tubular necrosis, or kidney failure, and other kidney-related disorders may occur as a result of EDTA chelation, according to the American Heart Association. Kidney dialysis may be required in some cases. The Mayo Clinic reports such reactions as rare, though the American Cancer Society urges caution among patients suffering from any kidney disorder when seeking chelation therapy.
References
- American Heart Association: Questions and Answers About Chelation Therapy
- American Cancer Society: Chelation Therapy
- Mayo Clinic: Chelation Therapy for Heart Disease
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid
- The Medscape Journal of Medicine: Why the NIH Trial to Assess Chelation Therapy (TACT) Should Be Abandoned
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