Chelation therapy is the therapeutic use of chelating agents. It is a procedure used in both conventional medicine and alternative medicine (complementary medicine). In this process, complexing agents such as EDTA, DMSA, DMPS, etc. are administered orally or as an infusion. In orthodox medicine, chelates are mainly used to treat heavy metal poisoning, e.g. with lead. Other areas of application are, for example, iron overload of the organism, which can be due to a so-called hemolytic anemia (anemia, e.g., caused by thalassemia). In this case, the erythrocytes (red blood cells) are destroyed and the hemoglobin (red blood pigment) is released, which itself contains iron). Another orthodox medical indication is hypercalcemia (calcium excess) in renal insufficiency (kidney weakness; loss of function of a damaged kidney). Chelates can bind the calcium and reduce the calcium level in the blood. In alternative medicine, there is an assumption that the calcium-binding properties of chelates could be used to treat atherosclerosis (arteriosclerosis; hardening of the blood vessels), since the plaques on the walls of the blood vessels consist, among other things, of calcium. Here, chelation therapy is used to treat circulatory disorders. However, this indication has not yet been scientifically proven.
Indications (areas of application)
- Heavy metal poisoning
- Iron overload, for example, as a result of thalassemia.
- Atherosclerosis* (arteriosclerosis, arteriosclerosis).
Contraindications
- Pregnancy
- Circulatory disorders
- Renal insufficiency
* The cost of chelation therapy against atherosclerosis is not covered by public health insurance. The German Chelation Society indicates the cost per infusion at 100 to 150 euros.
The procedure
The chemical basis for chelation therapy is the chelate complex. The term is derived from the Greek word “chele,” which means crab claw. A chelate complex is formed by bonding an organic or inorganic multidentate ligand to a central atom. At least two or more binding sites of the central atom must be occupied, which is usually a metal ion. Thus, chelates can bind metals and, for example, in the case of heavy metal poisoning (e.g., mercury, lead, and cadmium), cause them to be excreted. The following list provides an overview of various chelates and their applications:
- EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetate) – heavy metal poisoning, e.g. lead or mercury poisoning.
- DMSA (meso-2,3-dimercapto-succinyl acid) – heavy metal poisoning, e.g. lead or mercury poisoning.
- DMPS (2,3-dimercaptopropyl-L-sulfonate) – heavy metal poisoning, e.g. lead or mercury poisoning.
- N-acetylcysteine – weak, but well-tolerated complexing agent, which is also used in heavy metal poisoning.
- Algae preparations – the heavy metal-binding properties of algae are known, however, an effect in the human organism has not yet been proven.
- Desferrioxamine – approved substance for the treatment of excess iron, for example, in thalassemia.
- Deferiprone – approved substance for the treatment of excess iron, e.g., in thalassemia.
Chelates are administered by slow infusion in combination with trace elements, vitamins and iron supplements (not for iron excess). Since chelates also combine with metal ions, which have a meaningful, important function in the organism, additional trace elements or minerals must be substituted to prevent disturbances in the electrolyte balance, which can lead, among other things, to life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias. Because of these complications, chelation therapy should be used with great caution. Chelation therapy is administered in several sessions, and the patient can read, watch television, or work without difficulty during the infusions. Because of the possibility of complications, the use of chelation therapy should be left exclusively to experienced physicians.
