Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHistoryProcessWho Does ItEvidenceSide Effects & Safety Concerns
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
History
Process
Who Does It
Evidence
Side Effects & Safety Concerns
Chelation therapy is a treatment primarily used for metal poisoning, but it is also analternative treatmentoption for other conditions. It’s based on the process of chelation, in which chemicals are used to remove heavy metals and other substances from the body.
Although chelation was originally used to treat conditions like lead poisoning, chelation therapy is now claimed to protect against heart disease and other major health problems.
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The word chelation is derived from the Greek wordchelos,which means claw.The term refers to how a bodily metal like iron binds in a pincer-like manner to a chemical compound known as a chelating agent.
The first clinical use of chelation therapy was in 1956, where improvements were seen through therapy in 19 out of 20 lead-poisoned patients with severeangina.Since then, its efficacy for metal poisoning is well established, but there has been limited support and studies for its use in treating other conditions.
In chelation therapy, a chelating agent is introduced into the body through an intravenous (IV) drip or oral pill. Once it enters the bloodstream, the agent binds to certain molecules (such as metals or minerals) and is removed from the body through urination, carrying those molecules with it.
One of the most common chelating agents used in chelation therapy is ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA).EDTA is known to remove substances such as lead, iron, copper, and calcium from the blood.
Other chelating agents also used include:
Conditions Treated
Although the FDA has only approved prescription chelation therapy for metal poisoning, some health professionals have used chelation therapy for other ailments.
A common belief of proponents of chelation therapy is that it can aid in treatingatherosclerosis(i.e., hardening of the arteries). Since calcium deposits are found in artery-clogging plaques, some practitioners argue that using chelation therapy to remove calcium deposits can restore healthy blood flow in the arteries.
Some also suggest that EDTA can act as an antioxidant and protect against the damaging effects of chronic inflammation. To that end, chelation therapy is also used to treat osteoarthritis and other inflammation-related conditions.
In addition, chelation therapy is sometimes used to treat the following health issues:
Any licensed physician can perform chelation therapy on a patient. However, chelation therapy for uses other than metal toxicity is not conventionally taught in medical school, and physicians who perform it generally arenaturopathic doctorsor medical doctors who receive specialized training for it.
The scientific support for chelation therapy’s benefits for health conditions other than metal poisoning is limited. There is a consensus that much more research is needed in this area.
For example, one comprehensive review of studies on chelation therapy and heart health concluded that there was insufficient evidence to determine whether chelation therapy is effective or not.
Some believe chelation therapy canhelp those with autism, as some research has implied a possible link between autism and increased toxic metal levels in the body.But in one systematic review that explored this possible link, it was found that there was no evidence from clinical trials that supports chelation therapy as a viable treatment option.
Past research has discouraged the use of chelation therapy because of its potential to cause adverse effects and indirect harm to patients.
However, there’s some evidence that chelation therapy may be beneficial in certain instances, like for those who have suffered aheart attack.
In one of the most notable studies in the history of chelation therapy, known as the Trial to Assess Chelation Therapy (TACT), researchers evaluated the effectiveness and safety of EDTA-based chelation therapy for those who experienced a heart attack.
TACT involved 1,708 participants and took ten years to complete, and revealed that chelation therapy might reduce the risk of issues such as stroke and hospitalization for angina.
However, there were several problems with the study that make its results somewhat questionable. One problem, in particular, was that many participants dropped out of the study, which could skew the results.
Further randomized trials will be necessary to assess whether chelation therapy may be helpful in people with heart disease, and the National Institutes of Health is currently funding more research in this area.
A major reason chelation therapy is not widely accepted for conditions other than metal poisoning is due to the risk of side effects, which is significant.
Side effects can especially occur when higher doses are used, and include:
In some cases, chelation therapy may trigger serious side effects, such as kidney damage and dehydration.There’s also concern that chelation therapy could remove calcium from healthy bones and other tissues.
A Word From Verywell
Chelation therapy has been effective in treating metal poisoning, but its efficacy in treating other conditions is unclear. Be sure you talk to your doctor and understand the risks of chelation therapy if you are interested in receiving it.
16 Sources
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