Chelation therapy is a medical procedure designed to help purge toxins, most commonly heavy metals, from the bloodstream, according to the Mayo Clinic. The process works via the intravenous injection of a chelating agent, usually an amino acid called EDTA, which seeks out and binds with blood-borne toxins, making them able to be expelled from the body in urine. There are several types of toxins that may be removed through various chelation therapies.
Lead
The most common type of poisoning for which chelation therapy is used, and the only type for which EDTA chelation is approved by the FDA, is lead poisoning. The FDA reports that the specific drug used for this type of chelation therapy is calcium disodium versenate, also known by its chemical name, edetate calcium disodium. The Mayo Clinic states that lead poisoning is possible through exposure to lead-based paint and lead-tainted cosmetics, toys and environmental sources, though it most frequently happens gradually after years of continued exposure. It is particularly dangerous to young children, as it can stunt development, and it can be fatal when highly concentrated.
Digitalis
Digitalis, according to the American Heart Association, is a drug made from the foxglove plant and used to strengthen heart contractions, slow the heart rate and reduce tissue fluid levels. As an emergency medication, it is sometimes employed in cases of congestive heart failure and arrhythmia. The FDA states that edetate disodium, another type of EDTA that is sometimes marketed under the name Endrate, is approved for use in chelating toxic levels of Digitalis. Digitalis toxicity is usually characterized by an irregular heartbeat.
Calcium
Though calcium is an essential nutrient and not considered a toxin at normal levels, some disorders can drive calcium rates to the point of toxicity. In these cases, edetate disodium is also an appropriate chelating agent for treating elevated calcium levels, also known as hypercalcemia. According to the Mayo Clinic, hypercalcemia is typically caused by overactive parathyroid glands. While this condition is most common among post-menopausal women, it can happen to anyone, and is sometimes associated with overuse of calcium supplements, adverse reactions to other medications and certain types of cancer.
Mercury
According to the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association, chelation therapy with EDTA is an effective treatment for mercury poisoning. The FDA, however, has not explicitly approved EDTA to treat mercury toxicity. According to an article published by the Medscape Journal of Medicine and titled, "Why the NIH Trial to Assess Chelation Therapy (TACT) Should Be Abandoned," this use of chelation therapy is the source of significant controversy and is related to theories on the causes of autism. The article states that while it has not been clinically proven via double-blind trails, some scientists allege that autism can be a side effect of childhood vaccines that contain mercury. Furthermore, despite the failure of the FDA to approve EDTA chelation for mercury detoxification, some advocates of the procedure promote it as a means of potentially curing autism that occurs in children following these vaccinations.
Cadmium
The American Cancer Society specifies cadmium as another heavy metal that can be effectively chelated via EDTA chelation therapy, though again, the use of chelation for this specific type of poisoning has not been explicitly approved by the FDA. The Mayo Clinic states that cadmium poisoning is sometimes a result of workplace exposure in some industrial settings, and that prolonged toxicity can increase the chances of developing kidney cancer.
Chelation Procedure
Chelation therapy is not a one-time treatment, but rather a series of as many as 30 treatments, according to the Mayo Clinic. Each treatment lasts several hours, during which time the patient is connected to an IV of the chelating agent. It is an outpatient procedure, and because the chelating agent may bind with the body's essential vitamins and nutrients in addition to the toxins, vitamins and supplements are routinely prescribed as part of the treatment.
Possible Side Effects
The American Heart Association warns of multiple side effects that may occur as a result of chelation therapy, including kidney failure, hypotension, cardiac arrhythmia, allergic reactions and even death.
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