Page 45 - Summer2008

CHELATION THERAPY; NEITHER NATURAL NOR WISE

Chelation is a process by which toxic metals, such as mercury and lead, are bound to a chelating agent (a chemical
that chelates or “grabs on” to them) and then are eliminated from the body. In theory, once the metals are removed, they
can no longer exert their toxic effects and the individual’s health improves. In practice, the results of oral, intravenous
or other routes of chelation with agents such as EDTA (ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid), DMSA (dimercaprosuccinic
acid, also known as succimer), DMPS (dimercaptopropanesulfonic acid) and penicillimine are far from safe.
The body in its wisdom sequesters toxic metals as far away from vital functions as possible. It is therefore not wise
to “provoke” the body to rapidly dump mercury, lead and other toxic metals out of their hidey holes deep within the
cells and tissues. As the metals enter the blood stream to be passed out of the body in urine or bile, they can damage
brain and nervous tissue, depress immunity and disrupt other needed bodily functions.
1
There’s nothing natural about intravenous chelating agents. They are drugs, drugs that were initially developed by
and for the military to treat acute mercury, lead and other poisonings of World War II army and navy personnel. Their
2,3
use for the removal of chronic levels of toxic metals is off label and controversial.
Although some physicians and parents report stunning success, chelation treatments are risky, especially to autistic
and other highly vulnerable children and to extremely toxic adults . Following chelation therapy, many autistic children
have shown seriously weakened immune systems, extreme fatigue, bowel disturbances such as diarrhea and flatulence,
and a marked worsening of gut flora.
4,5
Some patients show improvement in autistic symptoms initially, but regress soon after, as chelation therapy does
nothing to support or heal the body’s own detoxification pathways. Indeed, chelation drugs have the potential to radi-
cally alter the homeostasis of all our biochemical pathways that involve sulfur chemistry. DMSA is an analogue of many
intermediates in the Krebs or citric acid cycle, a central pathway for the metabolism of fats, carbohydrates, and amino
acids. Penicillamine is structurally similar to vitaletheine, cysteine, cystamine and beta-aletheine, all of which have vital
roles in immune and other functions. DMPS is an analogue of dihydrolipoic acid, a powerful antioxidant vital to mito-
chondrial health, and to fat metabolism and other cellular processes.
Chelation therapy can lead to hypocalcemia, a severe lowering of blood calcium levels with disastrous effects
upon humoral immunity. We also have reports of comas and blood cell rupturing due to chelation therapy. The FDA
6
now requires that the chelator EDTA include calcium salts to prevent the death of humoral immunity.
7
Several deaths have occurred because of a medication error involving a “look-alike, sound-alike substitution” drug.
Instead of the chelating agent edetate disodium calcium (CaNa EDTA), which is used for treating lead or other heavy
2
metal poisoning, the doctors used edetate disodium (Na EDTA), intended only for extreme and rare medical emergen-
2
cies involving life-threatening excesses of calcium.
8,9
Even when chelation is done properly, doctors need to monitor their patients’ kidney and liver health and blood
composition. Patients may show high levels of transaminases, enzymes in the blood that indicate liver damage or neutro-
penia and thrombocytopenia from bone marrow suppression. Finally, chelation is contraindicated in people with kidney
problems. 10-12 As with any drug therapy, some patients are more sensitive and vulnerable to damage than others.
Aggressive chelation can also seriously deplete needed metals such as zinc, magnesium, calcium, selenium, man-
ganese, chromium, vanadium and molybdenum. As a result, chelation protocols generally recommend an extensive
supplement regimen during the course of treatment. 13

1. Lawrence D. Heavy metal modulation of lympocyte activities. 1. In vitro effects of heavy metals on primary humoral immune responses. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol.
1981. 57, 439-441. Dr. Lawrence used EGTA, which is a close structural analogue/twin sister of EDTA.
2. www.autisminfo.com.
3. www.cardiorenew.com/history.php.
4. Campbell-McBride, Natasha. Gut and Psychology Syndrome. (Cambridge: Medinform Publishing, 2004). pp. 202-204.
5. Conversation about autism and chelation therapies with pediatrician John Hicks, MD, and with Betsy Hicks, founder of AutismOne, November 2007.
6. Lawrence D. Heavy metal modulation of lympocyte activities. 1. In vitro effects of heavy metals on primary humoral immune responses. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol.
1981. 57, 439-441.
7. www.fda.gov/cder/drug/advisory/edetate_disodium.htm; www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/edetate_disodium/QA.htm
8. Brown MJ, Willish T et al. Deaths Resulting from Hypocalcemia after Administration of Edetate Disodium: 2003-2005. Pediatrics, 2006, 118, 2, 3534-36.
9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Deaths associated with hypocalcemia from chelation therapy--Texas, Pennsylvania, and Oregon, 2003-2005. Morb
Mortal Wkly Rep. 2006, 55, 8, 204-7
10. Campbell-McBride.
11. Sinya Y, Silova N, Williams K. Letter: Chelation therapy and autism. BMJ October 7, 2006: 333, 7531. 756
12. Defeat Autism Now! (DAN!) “Defeat Autism Now! (DAN!) Mercury Detoxification Consensus Group Position Paper. www.autism.com/triggers/vaccines/mercu-
rydetox.htm. Retrieved June 4, 2008.
13. Shaw, William. Chelation Protocol. Institute for Remedial Intervention Services. www.autismindia.com/article19.htm, Retrieved June 4, 2008.

SUMMER 2008 Wise Traditions 43