Chelation therapy is a treatment for atherosclerosis, or arterial sclerosis. Atherosclerosis is commonly referred to as the buildup of plaque, or a "hardening of the arteries," according to the American Heart Association. Chelation therapy injects a synthetic amino acid called EDTA into the veins to remove the plaque and soften the arteries. The American Heart Association finds that there is no scientific evidence to support the efficacy of chelation therapy.
Chelation Therapy Theory
According to Americanheart.org, the website for The American Heart Association, proponents of chelation therapy suggest that it is effective at removing plaque or calcium buildup in the veins and improving atherosclerosis. They base this advocacy on the premise that EDTA is particularly good at binding with heavy metals (it is often used for heavy metal poisoning) and can bind to calcium. This led to the unproven assumption that EDTA could bind to the plaque or calcium buildup in the veins and carry it out of the body.
Costs and Dangers
The American Heart Association indicates that chelation therapy is not without a high cost. Each treatment costs up to $100. These treatments usually take two to three hours and sometimes are administered up to 30 times a month. No insurance coverage exists for this treatment so it will be an out-of-pocket expense.
EDTA is not a harmless drug; chelation therapy can contribute to kidney failure, convulsions, as well as low blood pressure, which is particularly negative for patients who have artherosclerosis. Additionally, some individuals may be allergic to the EDTA.
Lack of Scientific Evidence
The most notable concern that The American Heart Association cites is that there is a lack of scientific evidence supporting or testing the benefits of chelation therapy. Most advocates of the therapy rely on testimonials, rather than clinical research to substantiate the medical value of the product. Moreover, the only scientific research on chelation therapy concluded that the therapy is no more effective on athereosclerosis than a placebo, which is an inert substance used in a double blind study.
One study took place in 2002, and is entitled, "Chelation Therapy for Ischemic Heart Disease." The results were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Additionally, Dr. Saul Green conducted a review in 2007 of the literature relating to chelation therapy, concluding that positive chelation therapy claims are overstated. Dr. Saul Green is a biochemist who conducted cancer research at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
Tags: American Heart, American Heart Association, Heart Association, buildup veins, calcium buildup, calcium buildup veins