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What Is Edta Blood?

EDTA (ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid) is a man-made amino acid injected into the blood stream to help reduce the presence of heavy metals, such as mercury or lead. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), these metals bind with EDTA to create a compound that leaves the body through urination. Because EDTA also binds with calcium, researchers have suggested that it can help reopen blocked arteries, but the AHA says this has not been scientifically proven.

  1. Function

    • According to The American Cancer Society (ACS), heavy metals can reach toxic levels within the human body and interfere with normal functions. EDTA helps the body break down these metals and remove them from the bloodstream. Since the 1960s, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved EDTA for the treatment of heavy metal poisoning.

    Process

    • The process by which EDTA seeks out and attaches itself to minerals in the bloodstream is known as “chelation.” The use of EDTA is referred to as “chelation therapy.” The Mayo Clinic describes chelation therapy as a course of five to 30 treatments, each of which can take several hours. The ACS notes that the therapy has in some cases taken up to 100 treatments over several years. Patients often resume daily activities after each treatment.

    Theories/Speculations

    • Researchers have claimed that EDTA can improve blood flow and help prevent heart disease and atherosclerosis. The AHA counters that these positive effects can be attributed to lifestyle changes--such as dieting, exercise, and smoking cessation--that accompany chelation therapy. The ACS adds that chelation therapy has not been proven to cure cancer and may actually increase the risk of cancer.

    Warning

    • The AHA has concluded that EDTA is not a completely safe alternative to other treatments, noting that it can cause bone marrow depression, cardiac arrythmias, allergic reactions, kidney failure and respiratory arrest. The Mayo Clinic also notes that immediate side effects include lowered blood pressure, vomiting, nausea, fever and headache.

    Public Health Advisory

    • The FDA has associated 11 deaths in the U.S. with the two separate drugs commonly known as EDTA: Endrate and Calcium Disodium Versenate. The former is used to treat heavy metal poisoning and the latter is approved for patients with high blood calcium levels. The FDA has issued a Public Health Advisory to prevent confusion between the drugs, which has already proven fatal in five cases, as of 2007.

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