Oral chelation is a hazardous medical treatment used to remove toxic heavy metals from the body. Chelating agents enter the body by mouth, usually combined with vitamins as a supplement, and bind to metals so they may be purged through urination. Oral chelation does not legally require medical supervision and many chelating agents can be purchased without prescription.
Easy access to oral chelation products and equipment lends a false impression that it is a benign procedure. Home treatment, however, should be conducted with full awareness of oral chelation dangers. Complications and side effects can numerous and potentially deadly.
Medication Errors
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reports a number of deaths have occurred as a result of medication errors in chelation treatments, specifically involving EDTA. Edetate disodium and edetate calcium disodium are both chelating agents, and are both referred to as "EDTA" in marketing and packaging. Similarities between the two have led to multiple cases of fatal confusion.
Edetate calcium disodium is approved by the FDA for the treatment of severe lead poisoning. Edetate disodium, FDA approved for emergency treatment of critically high blood calcium levels and to regulate heart rhythm, has been accidentally administered in place of edetate calcium disodium. The error results in a severe drop in blood calcium levels that has proven deadly in children and adults.
Improper Use
The FDA warns consumers that improper use of EDTA can be fatal. Many popular uses of EDTA have not been approved by the FDA. Promotion and vague packaging can mislead consumers about oral chelation dangers and benefits. Heart disease and autism are among the most popular disorders inappropriately treated with EDTA chelation therapy.
Mineral Depletion
Oral chelation carries a high risk of mineral depletion. Dr. Elmer M. Cranton, author and chelation expert, warns that EDTA remains largely unabsorbed when taken orally. Cranton reports 95 percent of EDTA consumed by mouth will remain in the digestive tract, binding to essential dietary nutrients and resulting in malabsorption. Many individuals may choose to extend treatment to achieve better results, but doing so can lead to more severe mineral depletion. Consumers should not be confused by oral chelation products that combine chelating agents (like EDTA) with vitamins. The supplementation provided is not adequate to combat the depleting effects of EDTA.
Thrombophlebitis
WebMD.com lists thrombophlebitis, a condition characterized by swelling and irritation in an area of the veins, as a potential side effect. Patients using oral chelation products to treat heart or circulatory problems should seek medical treatment immediately if they experience thrombophlebitis as it may indicate an existing blood clot has detached and advanced.
Side Effects
WebMD.com warns even low dose chelation can cause side effects. Patients may experience headaches, increased blood pressure, decreased blood sugar, and skin rash.
Fraud
Sellers of oral chelation products routinely make fraudulent claims about the treatment's potential health benefits. The National Council Against Health Fraud reports the FDA has battled distributors over deliberately misleading statements in packaging and promotion for decades. The FDA issues warning to consumers that no non-prescription oral chelation product has ever sought or been granted FDA approval for safety or the effective treatment of any condition.
Placebo Effect
The illusion of efficacy is among the greatest oral chelation dangers. Consumers who have been persuaded by fraudulent claims may also be convinced the products are effective even when no proof of improvement exists. Conditions consumers are attempting to treat are often serious and require real medical attention. Sufferers who believe a heart condition is being reversed by these products, in spite of having no evidence of improvement, may postpone accessing legitimate treatment. The illusion of oral chelation efficacy in treatment of serious illness can lead to irreversible damage or death.
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