EDTA Chelation Therapy

As mentioned in my summary, I have had hundreds of EDTA treatments over the past 16+ years and feel it has been a major contributor to my continued health. There are many opponents to this therapy and challenge the studies on chelation therapy. Most of those that oppose EDTA treatment are strong advocates of only conventional treatment for heart disease and have had very little contact with this treatment procedure. I can only relate on how I feel it has been of a benefit to me and others that I have seen in over 16 years. I would also like to add that I have tried oral chelation and do not feel it was as beneficial as the 3 mg EDTA IV as been. This is just a short commentary on EDTA treatment and where you may obtain information on a current major study.

Chelation is a chemical process in which a substance is used to bind molecules, such as metals or minerals, and hold them tightly so that they can be removed from a system, such as the body. In medicine, chelation has been scientifically proven to rid the body of excess or toxic metals. For example, a person who has lead poisoning may be given chelation therapy in order to bind and remove excess lead from the body before it can cause damage.

In the case of EDTA chelation therapy, the substance that binds and removes metals and minerals is EDTA (ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid), a synthetic, or man-made, amino acid that is delivered intravenously (through the veins). EDTA was first used in the 1940s for the treatment of heavy metal poisoning. EDTA chelation removes heavy metals and minerals, such as lead, iron, copper, and calcium, from the blood and is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in treating lead poisoning and toxicity from other heavy metals. Although it is not approved by the FDA to treat CAD, some physicians and alternative medicine practitioners have recommended EDTA chelation as a way to treat this disorder.

Possible Side Effects

When used as approved by the FDA (at the appropriate dose and infusion rate) for treatment of heavy metal poisoning, chelation with EDTA has a low occurrence of side effects. The most common side effect is a burning sensation experienced at the site where the EDTA is delivered into the veins. Rare side effects can include fever, hypotension (a sudden drop in blood pressure), hypocalcemia (abnormally low calcium levels in the blood), headache, nausea, vomiting, and bone marrow depression (meaning that blood cell counts fall). Injury to the kidneys has been reported with EDTA chelation therapy, but it is rare. Other serious side effects can occur if EDTA is not administered by a trained health professional.

How Does Chelation Work

Several theories have been suggested by those who recommend this form of treatment. One theory suggests that EDTA chelation might work by directly removing calcium found in fatty plaques that block the arteries, causing the plaques to break up. Another is that the process of chelation may stimulate the release of a hormone that in turn causes calcium to be removed from the plaques or causes a lowering of cholesterol levels. A third theory is that EDTA chelation therapy may work by reducing the damaging effects of oxygen ions (oxidative stress) on the walls of the blood vessels. Reducing oxidative stress could reduce inflammation in the arteries and improve blood vessel function. None of these theories has been well tested in scientific studies.

National Institute of Health Study

This placebo-controlled, double-blind study will recruit 2,372 participants aged 50 years and older with a prior myocardial infarction (heart attack) to test whether EDTA chelation therapy and/or high-dose vitamin therapy is effective for the treatment of CAD. This study, with a total cost of approximately $30 million, is over 20 times larger than any previous study of chelation therapy. It is designed to be large enough to detect if there are any mild or moderate benefits or risks associated with the therapy.

EDTA chelation therapy, as practiced in the community, often includes administration of high doses of antioxidant vitamin and mineral supplements. Thus, it is possible that effects of the therapy could be connected to these supplements. In order to test whether some of the therapy's effect may be attributable to vitamin/mineral supplements, or to the EDTA solution itself, the investigators will first randomly assign participants to receive either EDTA chelation solution or placebo. Then the patients in these two groups (about 1,186 in each) will again be randomly selected to receive either low-dose or high-dose vitamin/mineral supplements.

The EDTA chelation therapy or placebo solution will be delivered through 40 intravenous infusions that are administered over a 28-month course of treatment. The first 30 infusions will be delivered on a weekly basis and the last 10 will be delivered bimonthly. Following the infusion phase, participants will have contact with study staff at 3-month intervals until the study is complete.

The protocol for the trial was developed using a model protocol for EDTA chelation therapy endorsed by the American College for Advancement in Medicine (ACAM). The ACAM protocol is used worldwide by chelation practitioners. It is the intent of this study to ensure that the most widely practiced method of delivering EDTA chelation is rigorously tested.

Principle Investigator

The principal investigator for the trial is Gervasio A. Lamas, M.D., director of cardiovascular research and academic affairs at Mount Sinai Medical Center-Miami Heart Institute, Miami Beach, Florida. Dr. Lamas is a board-certified cardiologist and an associate professor of medicine at University of Miami School of Medicine. He has extensive experience in the design, conduct, and analysis of randomized, multi-center trials of the treatment and management of cardiac diseases, including CAD.

Information about the study, locations, and enrollment will be available from the NCCAM Clearinghouse at 1-888-644-6226, NCCAM's Web site, and from ClinicalTrials.gov, the NIH Web site for clinical trials information. From Canada, please call 305-674-2162 or e-mail tactnih@msmc.com

My Cardiac Summary

I am a 70-year-old white male that has had a cardiac condition for some 24 years. I have had two balloons procedures, percutaneous translumina coronary angioplasty (PTCA), attempts; most literature now says they do not seem to work anyway. I have had two by-pass surgeries, a quadruple in (1983), and a triple in (1991). I had a stent in 1998. Went into atrial fibrillation, irregular heartbeat (cardiac arrhythmia). First noticed in August 2006 while climbing to a glacier in Alaska and then again in September while diving in Hawaii. I first underwent 5 cardio-versions that were unsuccessful. Finally, I had a cardiac ablation in 2007 that corrected the arrhythmia.

So you see, I have had a number of problems for many years and still will quail hunt all day, do physical work at the farm, exercise several times a week, and without any major problems. The main problem I have is more related to just being older. Have a number of friends my age and there are not many that can keep up with the pace I set. I should also mention that I have a fairly comprehensive background in physiology, chemistry, and biology along with some medical experience.

It seems that all the male members of my family have experienced rather serious heart conditions; my Father passing away at age 53 with a massive heart attack, my brother had his first heart attack at age 27. Starting in 1983, at the age of 46, is when I first experienced my first major heart attack. I feel certain that I had a number of minor attacks before then, since there were a number of times I felt some tightness in my chest and remember one that was particularly more severe a few years earlier. I have always been a very active person and generally ignored minor aches and pain. Rule #1 Do not ignore those symptoms like I did. I was a big jogger for a number of years and always thought it would make me immune to the cardiac conditions the male members of my family experienced. I would run 3-5 miles at least 5 days of the week, running 8-minute miles for three miles and 9-minute miles for 5 miles. I later found out the guy that wrote the book on Running, Jim Fixx, also had the same thoughts, but passed with cardiac blockages similar to mine. Apparently, his were more seriously blocked than mine.

I also had nuclear stress test for each year for 5 years prior to my first “real” heart attack. A physician in general practice conducted these examinations. This first major attack occurred at night while I was alone, but having some medical background did realize it was a heart attack. I did not feel threatened by it, but did take some aspirins during the episode. I had also been taking aspirin, 325 mg, each day for years before the attack. I will say that since I did not have any nitroglycerin I could have tried taking gunpowder and the nitrates in gunpowder could have helped lessen the damage. I did have some shot shells available that I could have used, but I did not do so. May have been a poor substitute for nitroglycerin, but do think it would have helped.

I was experiencing considerable stress at the time, going through a divorce, loss of job, loss of children, financial losses, and decided to go back to graduate school. I just mention this to indicate that there were a number of stress factors that could have had a definite impact in precipitating the heart attack.

This full-blown attack occurred in February 1983. I tried to run that morning and was unable to do so. This was the worst thing I could have done, as I understand now it really complicates the problem, but I was just so hard headed that I had to try and see what I could do. I did not seek medical attention until April. Again, I did not feel threatened even though I could not run, so I walked for several miles each day. I had my masters to complete and had a couple of papers to write and present at local universities. This was not a smart thing to do so, Rule #2 Do not put off seeking medical attention even though the symptoms may have lessened.

When I finally went in to see my general practice physician, he sent me to have an electrocardiogram (ECG). The technician looked at the resting ECG and tore the sheet off and went to the physician. He came in and said, “Looks like you had a heart attack?” I then went to a cardiologist that was sent all my records and this is where I was somewhat shocked about my condition. He stated I had been deteriorating for some 4 years prior to my heart attack. Rule #3 Go to a specialist, a cardiologist for testing of a suspected cardiac condition. Had I gone to the cardiologist for my stress test, my heart attack and the resulting damage may have been avoided.

Finally, I have been taking, ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) chelation for over 16 years and contribute a lot of my being able to function as well as I do to that treatment. I have had hundreds of treatments and go twice a month, but I can tell you exactly how many treatments when I noticed a change in my cardiac condition. It was twelve treatments of 3 mg of EDTA. I will have a section on the blog for a discussion of this type of treatment. I have a number of physician friends, some say quackery, some say they have seen miraculous results with the treatments.

Blog Summary

The intent of this Blog is to share some experiences I have had as a cardiac patient for some 24 years and to provide a forum of discussion on experiences others have had with their cardiac conditions. I will also indicate what I did wrong, did not do, or made wrong assumptions with my cardiac conditions that may keep others from making the same mistakes.

I would hope we could share some alternative treatment methods that have been successful or any that have not been so successful in treating your heart disease. This is not intended to be a one stop, know-it-all site, but one where some general discussions can be developed and shared with those of us who are faced with so many treatment options.

I know many are confused with the vast amount of material on cardiac conditions, alternative treatments, and medical terms used for cardiac conditions. It is hoped the sections of the Alternative Heart will be useful to clarify your questions and put them in an understandable format.

Personal Summary

I am a 70 year old male that has had a cardiac condition for some 24 years. It seems all the mail member of my family have experienced heart conditions. My Father passing away at age 53 with a heart attack in 1964 and my brother had his first heart attack at age 27.