Metal chelation therapy removes toxic metals from the body using chelating agents. It is approved for heavy metal toxicity only and has no effect on other conditions. Different compounds are used for different metals. Chelation therapy can cause serious side effects and requires long-term treatment under medical supervision.
Metal chelation is the process of using a chelating agent to remove metals from the body. Chelating agents bind to metal ions and hold them in a harmless suspension until they are expelled. Metal chelation therapy is often used to remove toxic levels of lead, mercury and arsenic from the bloodstream and tissue. It is sometimes used as an alternative treatment for hemochromatosis, an excess of iron in the blood.
Chelation therapy is approved for use only for the treatment of heavy metal toxicity. The therapy has been promoted as a cure for a variety of conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and autism. There have been a number of large-scale studies of the effectiveness of metal chelation as an alternative treatment for these conditions. Studies show that chelation therapy has no effect on any condition other than heavy metal toxicity.
There are several compounds that can isolate and bind to metal ions. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, or EDTA, is used in cases of lead toxicity. Dimercaprol binds to both arsenic and mercury. Copper toxicity is treated with penicillamine. Dimercaptosuccinic acid, or DMSA, binds to lead, mercury and arsenic.
Metal chelation has a low incidence of serious side effects when administered under the supervision of a physician. According to the US Centers for Disease Control, however, the use of an improper form of EDTA has been responsible for several deaths. In these cases disodium EDTA was used instead of the more common calcium EDTA. The main danger of chelation therapy is that chelating agents indiscriminately bind to metal ions, removing necessary minerals such as zinc, and at the same time remove toxic heavy metals.
Chelation therapy is a long-term medical treatment. Chelating agents can be administered intravenously, intramuscularly or orally. An intravenous infusion can take up to four hours to complete. Therapy continues for up to 12 weeks and includes repeated administration of chelating agents. It is the preferred method for removing toxic metals over a long period of time as faster metal removal has been associated with more serious side effects.
Administration of chelating agents can cause dangerously low levels of serum calcium. Metal chelation therapy can also cause kidney damage. During treatment, doctors do blood tests to check serum calcium levels and to monitor kidney function. Patients are also given supplemental vitamins and minerals in high doses to replace what is removed during chelation.
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