Let me begin by stating the following overview is not intended to be a comprehensive review of EDTA chelation therapy, but to give some general information in the hopes that the reader will investigate this modality on his or her own. Chelation, like every other healing modality, is not a panacea or a cure all for any disease. Most physicians who use chelation therapy combine it with changes in diet, lifestyle (especially stress reduction, smoking cessation, and reduction of exposure to harmful chemicals in the person’s environment), and in combination with specific nutritional supplements and vitamins/minerals. Because our society often times expects a “quick fix” I would caution anyone reading this that improved health and healing takes time.

WHAT IS CHELATION AND HOW DOES IT WORK?

Chelation therapy is a safe an inexpensive alternative to drugs and surgeries, and is used to treat conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, hypertension, heavy metal toxicities and environmental pollutants. The word chelation is derived from the Greek word chele meaning “claw” or “to bind”.

The concept of how heavy metals bind to organic molecules dates back to 1893. Chelation therapy was not used until the 1920's in the manufacturing of paint, rubber and petroleum products. EDTA (ethyl-diamine-tetra-acetic acid) was developed in Germany in the late 1930's and patented in 1935. Structurally it is a synthetic amino acid. It picks up and binds to heavy metals and allows them to be excreted through the urine. EDTA was used in industry and latter used medically in the navy to remove lead from sailors who were lead toxic from painting ships with lead-based paints. By the mid 1950's EDTA was widely used for removing lead from children and adults, and is approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for this purpose today. It is also widely used as an additive in foods today as well. While treating lead poisoning it was observed that adults with circulatory ailments, coronary artery disease, and cerebrovascular disease often found improvement in their circulatory conditions. This lead to further investigation and use of EDTA to treat hardening of the arteries, even though this is not a use approved by the FDA.

Initially it was thought that EDTA would remove calcium from hardened atherosclerotic plaque in the arteries, allowing the plaque to dissolve. We now know this is not the case, although there is some plaque reduction with prolonged and repeated chelation therapy. Current thinking is that EDTA chelation affects the circulation through the removal of heavy metals from the endothelial cells that line the arteries, allowing the increased production of NO (nitrous oxide), which acts as a muscle relaxant to the endothelium. In this way, circulation is improved by relaxing the blood vessels and decreasing the resistance to blood flow, even though plaque may remain.

We do know heavy metal toxicity leads to decreased amounts of NO, which in turn reduces blood flow and increases vulnerability to infection and hypercoagulability with subsequent blood clot development and sudden death. The elimination of heavy metals, therefore, can be a life saving procedure in many cases.

In 1999 Valentin Fuster, M.D., published a book entitled The Vulnerable Atherosclerotic Plaque. He pointed out that heart attacks do not occur in areas where there were large deposits of hardened plaque, but rather in areas of soft, fresh “vulnerable” plaques that became infected with a germ such as Herpes virus, Epstein-Barr virus, Cytomegalo virus or other low level germs (see my article on Nanobacter). Other researchers are currently exploring whether these germs are more prevalent and infectious when NO is not present in sufficient amounts.

Data from the NanobacTx-ACES trials using EDTA chelation in rectal suppository form combined with oral Tetracycline and a special powder to increase the EDTA effectiveness, was effective in reducing or eliminating calcific coronary artery disease and Nanobacter sanguineum, a type of bacteria that causes calcium deposition in the body. This study, by the way, was done with board certified cardiologists.

We also know that EDTA chelation causes a release of parathyroid hormone, which mobilizes calcium production in the bone, causing an increase in bone density after several months of chelation therapy. This is helpful in patient’s with osteoporosis. Patient’s with diabetes have improved diabetic control as insulin receptor sites are freed up, decreasing the body’s need for insulin.

HEAVY METAL DETOXIFICATION

Rather than using the word chelation therapy, we use the words “Heavy Metal Detoxification.” This is a more accurate description of what we are doing -- namely, ridding the body of harmful metals. We do know that certain metals called heavy metals can accumulate in tissues such as the brain, heart, kidneys, and virtually any area of the body and are associated with disease states such as Alzheimer’s disease, cardiomyopathy, atherosclerosis, kidney disease, and other disease states. As heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury, aluminum, zinc, nickel and chromium are removed, enzymatic activity and function of the tissue they were deposited in is improved.

Detoxification is a 3 part process:

Peg Donda, LPN is helping a patient who has an increased body burden of mercury.

1. Administration of a chelating agent that will bind to the heavy metal(s) and make it easier to remove from the body. With EDTA, this is done either through a series of intravenous (I.V.) treatments or with rectal suppositories of EDTA. The intravenous therapy is usually given weekly or bi-weekly intervals over 20 to 30 treatments, and then maintenance treatments as indicated on an individual basis. After every five treatments, a nutritional IV is given to replace lost essential minerals and nutrients. If rectal suppositories are used, the initial therapy is daily over 4 - 12 months.

2. Special nutritional therapies are also used to nourish the bodies detoxification pathways. These might include antioxidant vitamins and minerals, digestive enzymes, hormonal replacement therapies, or any other nutrients or substances that are natural or non-toxic required for the individual patient.

3. There is a patient contribution that will include a healthy diet, exercise in moderation, and self-education about the damage that heavy metals and other free radicals can do. Areas such as environmental or industrial exposure to toxins should be reduced or eliminated, and habits such as smoking cigarettes that cause free radical damage and further atherosclerosis should be eliminated.

IS EDTA THERAPY SAFE?

EDTA is generally quite safe and has been used for decades in children. The FDA made a search of reports of adverse results related to EDTA chelation therapy. Not a single death was found in over 40 years of use! Compare this to by-pass surgery which carries a 1 in 25 mortality rate and a heart attack rate during the operation of 1 in 20. And the surgeries do not even address the underlying cause of why the blockage occurred in the first place. Just like any other medication, precautions need to be taken. The dosage will be determined on an individual basis, and take into consideration pre-existing medical conditions such as liver, heart, kidney disease, diabetes, etc.. It will also take into consideration the age of the patient and their ability to excrete toxins. Certain tests, such as a serum creatinine or a detoxification panel may be required before Heavy Metal Detoxification is begun.

Intravenous Magnesium EDTA therapy is given over a 1 - 3 hour period, depending on the dose, the patient’s renal status and other factors. If Calcium EDTA is used, a 30 minute infusion is used. Frequency is usually weekly to bi-weekly, and takes into account an individual patient’s tolerance and need for convenience.

Side effects that may be experienced include nausea, muscle cramps, hypotension (low blood pressure), hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and allergic reactions (rare). It is important that patients eat a nutritious meal before treatments and during their detoxification process. Most patients who talk about the effects of chelation therapy overwhelmingly report an increase in energy and exercise tolerance.


WHY THE CONTROVERSY?

As a physician who utilizes both traditional and complementary medical modalities, chelation therapy shouldn’t be controversial. There is over a half century of experience both in Europe and in the United States among enough doctors and patients to know that chelation works in the majority of patients. Observation of and reproducibility of results of treatment is part of the scientific method. When 80% to 90% of patients feel dramatically improved, this is not placebo effect or psychosomatic effect. Unfortunately, economics and politics often enter the picture to preserve the status quo and throw negative on something that is beneficial.

Traditional allopathic medicine is based on the treatment of diseases and illnesses with drugs, surgery and chemotherapy. Articles on traditional medicine are published in journals such as JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) or NEJM (New England Journal of Medicine). These same journals do not generally accept articles from well trained alternative or integrative physicians on alternative therapies, and when they do publish articles, they are usually negative. Nor do these journals generally publish articles on preventive medicine or health. So most traditional physicians are ignorant at best about chelation or alternative therapies, or at worse, give negative opinions without scientific basis in fact. Traditional doctors cry out for the “double blind study” in order to validate the use of therapies such as chelation. And there is nothing wrong with this. Ironically, much of traditional medicine is not validated by double blind studies. Examples are surgeries or chemotherapy or psychiatry. The advertising by pharmaceutical companies often portrays the picture that everything can go away with medication. Take a pill and knock out a symptom, rather than trying to discover or treat the root cause of the problem. It is ironic that at one point in time Abbott Laboratories owned a patent on EDTA until it expired. Very little in the traditional medical school curriculums has to do with preventive medicine.

The good news is that alternative physicians are publishing more and more in alternative medical journals and are having conferences where ideas and data are shared. The Internet has revolutionized the exchange of information and ideas. So information is getting out to the public on alternative therapies. People want kinder, gentler, more cost effective therapies that improve health rather than just treat disease. They are demanding access to a variety of modalities, including chelation. This is not to say there haven’t been some bad apples in alternative medicine who were greedy or poorly trained. Of course, the same applies to physicians in traditional medicine and surgery as well.

The demand for alternative therapies is a consumer driven change in health care. American’s want freedom of choice of the type(s) of care they receive, including chelation therapy. The government is aware of this and the National Institutes of Health have funded a 30 million dollar study called the TACT study to evaluate EDTA chelation in a double blind manner. This study should begin in 2003, although protocols are still being worked out. Our Center has offered to participate in this study.

If you are considering chelation therapy check the credentials of your physician to see if he or she has received training from ACAM (American College for the Advancement of Medicine) or ICIM (International College of Integrative Medicine) and is board certified or eligible by the ABCT (American Board of Chelation Therapy).

For more information on EDTA chelation log online to the following:

1. www.drcranton.com/legal.htm
2. www.chelationtherapyonline.com/articles/p184.htm (This is extensive information about the scientific basis for chelation therapy by Dr. Elmer Cranton, who is a pioneer physician in this area and has published books on the subject).
3. www.tahoma-clinic.com/index.shtml (This is Dr. Jonathon Wright’s web site)