What Are the Different Types of Chelation Therapy?
April 12, 2024
Written by : Rebecca LaMarca, MSN, APN-BC, CNS
If they build up in your body, heavy metals like lead, arsenic, and mercury can seriously damage your health. Luckily, you can treat heavy metal poisoning with chelation therapy, a medical treatment that uses chelating agents to help your body eliminate metals through urine or stool.
There are multiple types of chelation therapy. Here’s what you should know about each type so you can choose the one that best meets your needs.
What are my chelation therapy options?
Your chelation therapy options are IV chelation, oral chelation, and suppository chelation. These different chelation methods each have their own advantages and disadvantages.
What is IV chelation?
In IV chelation therapy, a nurse places an IV into a vein (usually in an arm or hand) and delivers a chelating agent directly into your bloodstream through the IV. IVs for lead poisoning use a chelating agent called calcium disodium EDTA, while IVs for iron overload use deferoxamine.
Infusion usually takes 2 to 4 hours, and this method has a 100% absorption rate. The chelating agent binds to certain metals in your bloodstream, forming a water-soluble complex that’s later eliminated through the urine or stool.
What is oral chelation?
In oral chelation therapy, you take a chelating agent by mouth via a tablet, capsule, or liquid. The chelating agent goes through your gastrointestinal tract and gets absorbed into your bloodstream over time. It then binds to metals and forms an excretable complex, just like in IV chelation.
There are different types of oral chelators, and each has a different absorption rate:
Succimer (brand name Chemet) for childhood lead poisoning, which has a 20–25% absorption rate
Penicillamine for Wilson’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis, which has a 40–70% absorption rate
Deferasirox (brand name Exjade or Jadenu) for iron overload, which has a 60–70% absorption rate
There are also over-the-counter oral EDTA supplements with a <5–10% absorption rate. These supplements have not been approved by the FDA to treat heavy metal poisoning.
Is IV chelation better than oral chelation?
When comparing IV chelation vs oral chelation, it’s impossible to say if one is objectively “better” since people have different needs. IV chelation delivers the chelating agent right into your bloodstream. That means it has faster absorption and higher bioavailability than oral chelation. That’s why it’s often used for acute or severe heavy metal poisoning.
Oral chelation, on the other hand, is used for chronic, lower-level toxicity (e.g., long-term lead exposure in children) and for specific metals where an FDA-approved oral agent exists.
How much EDTA gets absorbed orally vs IV?
In general, oral EDTA is very poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, with less than 5% entering the bloodstream, while IV EDTA has 100% bioavailability.
What is suppository chelation?
Suppository chelation involves rectal absorption of a chelating agent, most commonly EDTA. It’s marketed by some integrative wellness brands as an at-home option, but it is not FDA-approved, has limited clinical evidence (primarily one animal study), and is not used in conventional toxicology practice. Patients considering suppository chelation should talk to an experienced integrative provider and continue any prescribed heavy metal treatment under medical supervision.
Which chelation therapy is best?
No chelation therapy can be considered “the best” because each has unique advantages and disadvantages depending on your needs. However, some people consider IV chelation therapy the most effective since it has the highest bioavailability by far.
Type of chelation therapy
IV chelation
Oral chelation
Suppository chelation
Absorption rate
100%
<5–70%
~36% (animal data)
Speed of effect
Rapid
Gradual
Variable
FDA approval status
Yes
Yes (for specific FDA-approved agents)
No
Side effect profile
Low blood pressure, mineral depletion, hypocalcemia risk
GI upset, agent-specific reactions
Rectal irritation, less predictable
Best for
Patients who need fast, reliable absorption
Patients concerned about costs or with milder cases
Patients who can’t take medications by IV or mouth
Provider supervision
Required, in-clinic or supervised mobile
Required
Not standardly supervised
Where to get it
Infusion clinics, hospitals, or at home through mobile IV services
Pharmacies or alternative medicine clinics
Pharmacies or alternative medicine clinics
Individual response varies. Chelation therapy of any form should be supervised by a licensed healthcare provider.
Which type of chelation therapy is right for me?
The type of chelation therapy that’s right for you depends on how quickly you need it to work, your comfort, and your budget. As explained above, IV chelation therapy has the highest bioavailability, so if you’re looking for quick, reliable results, you may want to go with an IV. This option can also work well if you don’t want to have to remember to take medication every day.
However, some people prefer oral chelation because it feels more comfortable and convenient than getting an IV. It also tends to cost less than an IV. Others choose suppository chelation if they have trouble taking medications orally. However, keep in mind that suppository chelation is not FDA-approved.
Your healthcare provider can also help you figure out which method to choose based on your health and the type of heavy metal poisoning you have.
Can you do chelation therapy at home?
Yes. The certified nurses at IV Elements offer supervised in-home IV chelation therapy across New Jersey, New York City, Philadelphia, and Bucks County, PA.
Also, in most cases, you can take chelation pills or suppositories at home as well. Just make sure they’re prescribed by a doctor, and follow your doctor’s specific instructions for administration.
Book customized chelation therapy with IV Elements
If you’re looking for IV chelation therapy in NJ, NYC, or Philadelphia, turn to the certified team at IV Elements. As members of the Physicians’ Association for Anthroposophic Medicine (PAAM) and the Institute of Functional Medicine (IFM), we specialize in personalized integrative care to help you feel your best. Visit one of our calming drip lounges in Hoboken, Parsippany, Asbury Park, or Marlton, or book a convenient in-home session through our mobile service. Schedule your consultation today!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which type of chelation therapy is most effective?While all types of chelation therapy can be effective, IV chelation has the highest bioavailability (100%) because it’s administered directly into the bloodstream. That means it can start working more quickly than other methods.Which chelation therapy works fastest?IV chelation generally works the fastest since the chelating agent is delivered directly into the bloodstream, allowing for quick absorption.What is the difference between IV and oral chelation?In IV chelation, a chelating agent is delivered directly into your bloodstream intravenously. In oral chelation, you take a capsule, tablet, or liquid that contains a chelating agent, and it passes through your gastrointestinal tract. The agent is not as well absorbed through the intestinal lining, so oral chelation has less bioavailability than IV chelation.Do oral chelation supplements actually work?Some oral chelation supplements can be effective for some cases of heavy metal poisoning if they are prescribed by your doctor, but they don’t always work for everyone. Always talk to your doctor before trying a supplement.Are oral chelation pills safe?Oral chelation pills can be safe when prescribed and monitored by a doctor. But you might have side effects like nausea, diarrhea, and stomach pain. Some people also experience allergic reactions. That’s why it’s important to talk to your doctor before trying them.How do EDTA suppositories work?An EDTA suppository is inserted into the rectum, and some of the EDTA may then be absorbed into the bloodstream through the rectal lining. The EDTA can then bind to metals in the bloodstream and form a water-soluble complex that can be excreted through the kidneys.Where can I get chelation therapy in NJ?You can get IV chelation therapy at IV Elements’ drip lounges in Hoboken, Parsippany, Asbury Park, and Marlton. Our nurses also offer in-home infusions throughout NJ, NYC, Philadelphia, and Bucks County.
Flora, S. J. S., & Pachauri, V. (2010). Chelation in Metal Intoxication. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 7(7), 2745–2788. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph7072745
Ellithorpe, R., Mazur, P., Gum, G., Button, G., & Nicolson, G. L. (2007). Comparison of the Absorption, Brain and Prostate Distribution, and Elimination of CaNa2 EDTA of Rectal Chelation Suppositories to Intravenous Administration. 10(2), 38–44. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235954753
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