Chelation is practice by doctors who engage in alternative medicine. Chelating agents are chemical compounds, injected or given orally, that latch on to metals in the body and carry them out through urine or feces. Chelation is commonly used for lead poisoning.

The concept of chelation is based on the observation that when a certain amino acid complex called EDTA (ethylene-diamine-tetra-acetic acid) comes in contact with certain positively charged metals and other substances such as lead, iron, mercury, copper, calcium, magnesium, zinc, and manganese, it binds them and then the complex is excreted through the kidneys. Chelation can occur by swallowing a medicine, called oral chelation, or by having a compound like EDTA injected in the blood stream in which case it is called intravenous chelation.

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Chelation therapy - Chelation Treatment
Chelation therapy is the process of removing from the body the undesirable ionic material by the infusion, or taking orally, of an organic compound which has suitable chelating properties. The practice of chelation therapy is quite controversial and there are many proponents who claim significant benefit while skeptics question the usefulness of this treatment.

Chelation and Medical Conditions
Proponents claim chelation can help with heart disease, particularly atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries, and for autism.

Chelation side effects - Chelation Danger
There have been cases of fatalities due to EDTA chelation done by infusion. A drug that is sometimes used to treat lead poisoning — and is also believed by some parents to be effective against autism — caused the deaths of two children in 2005. One youngster was autistic; the other had lead poisoning. The deaths mark the first documented link between a chelation drug and cardiac arrest in children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Both children were treated with a product called Endrate. CDC officials are also looking into the 2003 death of a 53-year-old woman in Oregon who was given chelation therapy by a practitioner of natural medicine. The maker of Endrate is Hospira Inc. Endrate is approved for treating certain heart rhythm disturbances and high concentrations of calcium triggered by a bone cancer. Since at least 1978, federal health officials have warned against giving it to children with lead poisoning. Endrate’s calcium-removing abilities can dangerously disrupt the body’s chemistry. In August, 2005, a 5-year-old boy with autism died in Portersville, Pa., while receiving an infusion of Endrate in a physician’s office. A coroner later ruled that the treatment killed the boy. In February 2005, a 2-year-old girl with lead poisoning was treated with three chelating agents — one of them Endrate — and died at a hospital hours later from what an autopsy concluded was cardiac arrest due to depleted levels of calcium.

EDTA
The term "EDTA" can mean either of these drugs: Disodium EDTA (edetate disodium, Endrate and generic versions); and Calcium disodium EDTA (also known as Calcium Disodium Versenate and Versenate).

Chelation emails - EDTA emails
Q. Will you be doing chelation therapy in the future?
   A. I don't have any plans at this time or the future to learn or practice chelation therapy.

Q. I have looked through all the list that you have, but couldn't find EDTA chelation, that is ORAL chelation! Could you please comment on it? I have read a lot of testimonials of people who have benefited greatly from EDTA chelation.
   A. We have not studied EDTA chelation enough to have an informed opinion.

Q. Does oral chelation (tablet form) actually live up to its claim of cleansing arteries of plaque build up? if it does how long does the process take?
   A. No opinion on oral chelation at this time.

Q.  My wife and I considering taking Angioprim oral chelator. My wife has been diagnosed with hardening of the arteries of the brain and is suffering memory loss. My problem is narrowing of the coronary arteries. We are wondering if you are familiar with Angioprim product and have done an evaluation, or, if you don't feel you can comment on this Angioprim product, would you care to discuss the chelation process.
   A. According to one website, Angioprim is a advanced chelation formula that aids in the removal of unwanted calcium and metals. The ingredients in Angioprim are amino acids Caysine (Proprietary Blend of synthetic amino acid), Lysine, and Cystine. We are not aware of any research done with Angioprim and hence cannot say that it works or does not work. However, the claims on the website seem to exceed the existing research, or lack of it. We cannot find any research on Angioprim published on Medline.

Q. I visit your website often and enjoy reading all the information you have there. I am interested in a product called EDTA. Would you have any information on this product or any opinions on it. It does not appear to be a main stream product.

Q. I've been very pleased with the products you have formulated. I see, though, that you don't offer EDTA, a chelator that is reported by some sources to help prevent blocked arteries. Any opinion on this?

Q. Great website. I was looking for info on EDTA chelation on your site and didn't see it listed. It is supposed to clean out plaque from arteries etc. ........Have any thoughts on it? And is it safe?
   A. We have not studied EDTA chelation in any detail and do not have an informed opinion on this topic at this time.

Q. I enjoy reading your email advice; it seems nonpartial and balanced. I wonder if you have any information about EDTA oral chelation, an amono acid product?

Q. I've been reading about EDTA to treat heart disease, heavy metal poisoning, and general aging. I noticed you don't carry an oral version of EDTA. I was wondering what you thought of EDTA in general, and specifically what you think of oral EDTA vs. IV solution. Other than aging naturally, I don't have any of the other problems.