Disodium EDTA is valued for its ability to bind to minerals like metals. It is used in cosmetic formulations as a stabilizer. It also is used medically to treat exposure to lead and other metals. Someday, it could even be used to combat coronary artery disease. However, not enough studies on this use exist to draw a conclusion, according to the National Institutes of Health, or NIH.
Cosmetic Function
In cosmetics, disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. A chelating agent binds with metallic compounds or metal irons. This binding prevents them from adhering to skin, clothing, hair and other surfaces. It also stops the metallic compounds from leading to contamination or discoloration, which trace amounts of iron can do, according to Paul Begoun, author of "The Original Beauty Bible."
Benefits
The EDTA in disodium EDTA stands for ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. For cosmetics, this commonly used stabilizer prevents changes to the consistency, odor and texture of cosmetics products thanks to its function as a chelating agent, or ability to bind with trace elements like minerals, according to Begoun.
Medical Function
Disodium EDTA is used as an antidote in cases of metal poisoning, such as lead poisoning, according to The American Journal of Medical Sciences. Chelation therapy is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treating toxicity from heavy metals, including lead poisoning, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The EDTA is delivered intravenously.
Use
Some 800,000 visits were made for chelation therapy in the United States during the year 1997, according to estimates by the American College for Advancement in Medicine, or ACAM. This professional association supports use of chelation therapy. ACAM in 2009 launched a certification program for chelation therapy. Doctors must complete a training course and pass an exam to gain the certification.
Potential
The NIH is conducting studies on whether chelation therapy also can help people who suffer coronary artery disease, in which a person's arteries are blocked by plaque. Some 7 million people in the United States suffer this condition. One theory is that EDTA chelation might remove calcium that is found in the plaque that blocks arteries, which would cause the plaque to break up, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. A couple of small studies seem to indicate promise for EDTA chelation therapy applied to coronary artery disease, but there were few participants in them. Large-scale studies are needed before this use can be recommended for or against.
References
- The American Journal of Medical Sciences; The Long Term Use, Side Effects, and Toxicity of Disodium Ethylenediamine Tetraacetic Acid (Edta; Meltzer; July 1961
- American College for Advancement in Medicine: Certified Chelation Therapy (CCT)
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Questions and Answers: The NIH Trial of EDTA Chelation Therapy for Coronary Artery Disease
