Chelation Therapy for Parkinson's Disease

Chelation therapy involves the administration of a man-made amino acid called ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA). EDTA binds to metals, such as lead and mercury, and has been successfully used to treat heavy metal poisoning. Proponents of chelation therapy claim that it can cure a host of disorders, including cancer, heart disease and Parkinson's disease. However, using chelation therapy for these disorders is highly controversial.

Process

• Chelation therapy can be expensive. A single treatment generally lasts from two to four hours and costs between $50 and $100. It is common to require 30 treatments in the first month, with the number being greatly reduced following the first month. Moreover, chelation therapy is not a medically accepted procedure for most disorders (including Parkinson's) and thus insurance companies and Medicare will not cover the costs, according to the American Heart Association.

Theory

• The symptoms of Parkinson's disease are caused by a lack of dopamine in the brain, which is due to the cells that produce the dopamine dying or becoming impaired. According to the Mayo Clinic, the cause of this process is still unknown. However, some theorize that environmental toxins play a role. Proponents of chelation therapy believe that it may help cure Parkinson's disease. Adding to this belief is a study conducted by researchers at the University of California-Santa Cruz, which found that exposure to manganese (a metal) may speed the emergence of Parkinson's disease symptoms. The study evaluated the effects of manganese exposure on rats with a condition that mimics pre-Parkinsonism and found that the exposure significantly impaired neurological functioning. Moreover, the effects of the manganese exposure were more pronounced in the rats with pre-Parkinsonism. In an article published in the Townsend Letter for Doctors & Patients, Dr. David Perlmutter suggested that unbound iron plays a role in bringing about the damage of dopamine producing cells. Consequently, Perlmutter believes chelation therapy (which binds with unbound iron) may help treat patients suffering from Parkinson's disease.

Evidence

• There is no scientific evidence to support the use of chelation therapy to treat patients with Parkinson's disease or any other disease other then heavy metal poisoning, according to the American Cancer Society. This view is supported by a number of respected organizations, including the American Heart Association, the American Medical Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Osteopathic Association, the American Academy of Family Physicians and the Food and Drug Administration. Moreover, the Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning regarding chelation therapy, noting that improper use of chelation therapy can result in death.