Chelation

1.  Introduction

Chelation (from Greek χηλή, chelè, meaning claw (pronounced key-lay-shun)) is the process of reversible binding of a ligand, the chelant, chelator or chelating agent, to a metal ion, forming a metal complex, the chelate.

Chelators are used in chemical analysis, as water softeners, as preservatives, and in medicine (chelation therapy), where they are employed to safely bind with poisonous metal agents such as mercury, arsenic, or lead in order to stabilize them and allow them to be excreted without further interaction with the body. Natural chelators include the porphyrin rings in hemoglobin or chlorophyll and the Fe3+ chelating siderophores secreted by microorganisms, and are contained in herbs such as cilantro, which has long been used as a treatment for heavy metal poisoning.

2.  Chelation and Autism

Chelation therapy began to be used as a treatment for autism after believers in the Thimerosal theory first propounded their theory that autism was caused by mercury poisoning as a consequence of receiving ethylmercury in the form of thimerosal in vaccines.

There are various forms of chelation therapy.

2.1  Trans-Dermal Chelation

TD chelation became popularised as a result of alternative practitioner Rashid Buttar formulating a 'trans dermal' cream that he alleges enters the skin and chelates the mercury. Buttar, who also claims to be able to cure cancer, reverse old age as well as cure autism has never submitted his product (TD-DMPS) for either safety or efficacy trials. It is not even established that his cream actually manages to traverse the skin barrier. TD-DMPS costs US$150.00 which will last for about a month on a 90 pound child. Recommendations state that treatment should be carried on until the child is 'cured'.

Rashis Buttar also promotes 'urine therapy' wherein the patients own urine is put through 'special filters' before being injected back into their body.

2.2  IV Chelation

IV (intravenous) Chelation is where the chelating agent is fed into the body intravenously. There are many practitioners in alternative medicine utilising this methodology. A course of treatment costs between US$2000 - US$4000.

In August 2005, a five year old autistic boy went into cardiac arrest fifty minutes after undergoing IV chelation therapy. A coroner's report found that the chelation therapy was the cause:

"We determined there's a direct correlation between the EDTA (the type of IV chelation being received) and the lack of oxygen to the brain and the heart muscle damage. It's a total package, based on the autopsy, the histology [tissue sampling] and the toxicology [blood sampling]," Mr. Strimlan (County Deputy Coroner) said."

2.3  Oral Chelation

Oral chelation is the administration of chelation capsules. Costs vary.

3.  Talking Points

Chelation has a large alternative medicine movement with proponents lauding it as a cure for a wide variety of things including heart disease. In 2001, researchers at the University of Calgary reported that cardiac patients receiving chelation therapy fared no better than those who received placebo treatment [1].

There is in fact, only one established ailment that chelation can be used for and that is heavy metal poisoning. Even within this area of medicine, results can be ambiguous and there are lots of anecdotal reports of serious health complications resulting from the use of chelation.

There is currently a study being undertaken on the efficacy of chelation as a treatment for autism being undertaken at the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Arizona, USA. Naturopathic medicine is itself an alternative treatment school. Blogger Do'C has identified some potentially serious flaws in the design and scope of the study. Please see the blog listings below for Do'C.

4.  Blog Resources

4.1  Autsim Diva

1. Talking Points
2. Chelation for Autism?
3. Tiaras for Dr Laidler
4. Chelation and Lab Tests
5. Murder by Chelation
6. "It was bound to happen"
7. Ratbags and Slimeballs
8. NAS on Chelation
9. Chelation Dangers
10. You Wanna Go Where...
11. Irrational Chelators
12. Patchwork Protocol

4.2  Bartholomew Cubbins

1. The Challenge of a Chelator Part I
2. The Challenge of a Chelator Part II

4.3  Do'C

1. More Research, More Questions: A Chelation Study in Arizona
2. EARTHQUAKE! Shaky Science In Arizona
3. Arizona Chelation Study - Is It Real Science?
4. What say you, Mr. looker-outter for the kids?
5. AZ DES/DDD Responds Following Promotion of SCNM Chelation ‘Research’
6. ASU Got It Right - Out The Door!
7. To Toxicity and Beyond
8. A Chelation Roundup
9. Autism, A Killer App., And A Drug Of Choice

4.4  Kevin Leitch

1. Chelation: Dangerous & Experimental
2. Letter To Dr Rashid Buttar, Chelationist
3. EDTA: A Morality Play Part I
4. EDTA: A Morality Play Part II
5. On The Death Of An Autistic Child
6. Chelation: Discarded By Most Parents
7. Rashid Buttar Recommending IV-EDTA Based ‘Therapy’
8. Chelation Death: The Coroner Speaks (subtitled: Look Before You Leap)
9. Into The Unknown With The Unknowing
10. DAN! Protocol For Dummies
11. Of Rashid Buttar, Stephen Hawking And JB Handley

4.5  Orac

1. Dr Buttar Has New Protocol
2. The CDC Flubs It
3. How To Succeed At Quackery?

4.6  Prometheus

1. Cart Before The Horse: Chelation For Autism
2. We Have Met The Enemy - And He Is Us!
3. A Little Math Test For Generation Rescue
4. Locked In and Threw Away The Key
5. The Coming Gold Rush
6. Nothing Succeeds Like Excess
7. Why Anecdotes Aren't Data
8. Autism Parrots

5.  Also See

Vitamin B12 Injections | Vitamin A | HBOT | Clay Baths | AIT | Lupron