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What Are the Dangers of Chelation Therapy?

Chelation happens naturally in the body when protein enzymes attach to minerals, such as iron, for distribution to the specific area of the body where they are needed. Chelation therapy is the process of removing harmful heavy metals, such as lead, mercury and arsenic, from the body. The process involves using chelating elements that bond with the metal molecules and remove them via the bloodstream through the liver and kidneys.

  1. Development of Chelation Therapy

    • The origins of chelation therapy are likely found in the preventative treatment of harmful side effects of poison gas used in World War I. The increase in cases of lead poisoning during World War II, due to the use of lead-based paint on the hulls of Navy ships, led to the development of a more specific chelating agent that would attach to lead elements in the body. Both of these early chelating processes had some negative side effects.

    Contemporary Chelation Therapy

    • The use of chelation therapy generally relates to the processes of blood flow and metabolic function. An amino acid know as EDTA (ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid) is often used in chelation therapy, either injected intravenously or administered orally. Some studies have indicated that EDTA chelation therapy can be useful for many different circulatory problems, including cardiovascular and cerebral complications, as well as atherosclerosis.

    Possible Dangers

    • The very process of chelation results in the removal of certain elements that the body does need, including zinc and calcium. Continued chelation therapy may in fact deprive the body of sufficient levels of these elements and others, resulting in some possible complications, including impairment of immune functions. Other cases have been reported that suggest a lack of sufficient calcium may lead to cardiac arrythmia, kidney damage and a decreased ability for blood-clotting.

    Dissenting Opinions

    • According the American Heart Association, the findings of current studies about the benefits of chelation therapy for cardiovascular treatment are inconclusive. A multicenter study was begun in 2002 by components of the National Institute of Health to assess the effects of chelation therapies on heart disease and arterial conditions, such as atherosclerosis. Currently, the findings of this study show no conclusive benefits of chelation therapy for these conditions.

    Other Findings

    • Other studies have been conducted that reflect no increased benefit in chelation therapy over the use of traditional medications that address circulatory treatment. Angiographic analysis has been used in a doulble-blind study to compare chelation therapy against a placebo infusion in patients who were experiencing arterial narrowing and blockage. Results of this study showed no difference in circulatory characteristics between the study groups.

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