Will Chelation Therapy Remove Iron?

Iron is a metal that is essential to the body's health. Cells need iron for basic life-sustaining functions like the transport of oxygen and DNA synthesis. However, unlike other nutritional supplements, iron is not easily shed from the body. Excess free iron causes metabolic acidosis (excessive acidity in the blood system) that can cause permanent cell damage and is life-threatening. Areas of the body most affected are the heart, liver and glands. Chelation therapy is an effective way to remove excess iron from the body.

Causes of Excess Iron

• Excess iron in the body is toxic.

  Excess iron in the body has multiple causes. The primary cause is a genetic disorder that causes disproportionate absorption of iron into the system. Other causes are external in origin: excessive amounts of iron supplements or therapy; numerous blood transfusions; diseases of the liver caused by hepatitis C and chronic alcoholism; and an overdose of iron. Children are often the victims of iron poisoning when they ingest adult-strength iron supplements. According to an article published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ-JAMC) on June 10, 2003, iron is the leading cause of death due to poisoning in young children.

Chelation Therapy

• Iron chelation therapy can be administered intravenously.

  Phlebotomy (removing blood from the body) is an accepted medical practice to lower iron levels. However, if the patient is also anemic and cannot tolerate blood loss, chelation therapy is the safest way to reduce the amount of iron. Iron chelation is the removal of iron from the blood by use of certain drugs. Only two such drugs are approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) for use in the United States: desferrioxamine and deferasirox. These drugs are designed to bond with iron in such a way that it is eliminated through the urine.

  Desferrioxamine is not absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract and must be administered intravenously (IV treatment) at a medical facility. Alternatively, the chelation drug may be injected under the skin (subcutaneously) at home, using a pump. The patient is taught how to sterilize the skin, insert the needle and operate the pump. Deferasirox can be taken orally. The tablets are best dissolved in water or juice, then swallowed.

Side Effects of Chelation Therapy

• Chelation therapy can have side effects.

  The primary purpose of chelation therapy is to prevent death from heart attack due to an overload of iron in the heart tissue. However, there are some side effects to be aware of. Immediate reactions to the IV treatment can occur, such as dizziness, nausea, low blood pressure and anaphylactic shock. Long-term effects may include kidney and liver damage, cataracts and hearing loss. Nursing mothers should consult with their doctor before beginning any chelation treatment.

Symptoms of Excess Iron Poisoning

• Excess iron or iron poisoning is life-threatening.

  Symptoms include: vomiting, explosive diarrhea, irritability, lethargy, abdominal pain and vomiting blood. If the poisoning is severe, the victim could experience an extremely rapid heartbeat (tachycardia), metabolic acidosis, abnormally fast breathing (tachypnea) or coma. If any of these symptoms occur, particularly after the ingestion of iron tablets, call 911 or the Poison Control center at 1-800-222-1222.

Warnings

• Keep medications and supplements out of the reach of children.

  Prevent iron overload or poisoning. Keep all iron supplements out of the reach of children. People with anemia should explore the possibility that they may be deficient in vitamin B rather than iron. Women who are no longer menstruating should, after consulting a doctor, avoid multivitamins that contain iron.