What Is Chelation Therapy?

• April 12, 2024
• Written by :  Rebecca LaMarca, MSN, APN-BC, CNS

Did you know that many chronic diseases have a close association with heavy metal poisoning? Certain metals are toxic, and their build-up in the body can make you sick over time.

The alarming figures highlight a public health concern and the need for a therapy that effectively removes toxic metals from the body. Chelation therapy is a proven way to eliminate harmful metallic substances in the body.

What Is Chelation Treatment?

Chelation simply means the process of removing heavy metals such as arsenic, mercury or lead from a person’s body. In this context, the intravenous infusion of the chelating agent completes this process. The chelating agent, EDTA (ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid), is a synthetic amino acid most commonly used for the procedure.

Heavy metal poisoning happens when the body’s soft tissues absorb toxic amounts of metal, impairing normal function. Chelation therapy aims to remove these metals by binding to them.

How Chelation Therapy Works

Alongside the obvious symptoms, a simple urine test can reveal if someone has an overload of metals in the body. Patients receive two urine tests — one before chelation and the other after. If an increased quantity of metals is present in the urine after chelation, toxicity is almost confirmed. Toxicity tests are important because even when blood levels of metals appear normal, toxicity can occur in the soft tissues and even the skeletal framework.

During chelation, the patient receives an IV injection containing the chelating agent. The chelating agent binds to metallic ions and forms ring structures known as a coordination complex. The body can then excrete this as urine. The intravenous solution also contains vitamins and minerals, along with the prepared EDTA. EDTA leaves the body just the same way it enters, the only difference being that it carries the excess metals along with it.

Patients usually need between 10 and 20 chelation treatments, which will last for several weeks or months. Treatment is usually time-intensive, and providers often encourage patients to read a novel or watch a movie. The average time for a session usually lasts between three to four hours.

Cellular Level

Chelation is a type of bonding where ions and molecules bind to metal ions. EDTA is a compound with an unusual ability to chelate metal ions in 1:1 metal-to-EDTA complexes. The binding occurs in its fully deprotonated form, where all acidic hydrogens are removed. Multiple coordinate bonds are then formed around a single central atom to form ligands. The ligands formed are biologically, chemically and biochemically inactive and can be passed freely in the urine.

Anatomical Level

Human blood is water-based, so when the chelating agent is injected at the intravenous site, the bloodstream directly absorbs it. Absorption here is 100% and immediate, and as the EDTA-containing blood circulates the body and flows to the organs and soft tissues, it binds with the excess metals in them. Subsequently, the blood transports it to the kidneys and the filtered fluid passes through the tubules and duct until it empties as urine.

Management

Only an experienced practitioner should carry out the process because of the close monitoring needed. Since the kidneys excrete EDTA, it is important to carry out renal function tests. Levels of minerals and nutrients in the body must be regularly assessed and controlled through supplementation if needed.

Giving too much fluid at a rapid rate causes a surge in the blood volume and leads to fluid overload, leading to a myriad of problems. Patients must be monitored in case of increased or reduced blood pressure. Aside from kidney function, other important tests to carry out before chelation therapy include cardiac function tests. A stress test and echocardiogram reveal the patient’s cardiovascular status and the ability to withstand the chelation therapy. Tests are repeated at intervals after several sessions of chelation therapy.

Patients should have a good meal before treatment, and blood pressure is monitored before and after the procedure. It is also necessary to take in up to 16 ounces of water to aid excretion and flush the kidneys during treatment. Certain nutrients chelate metals in the body. For instance, garlic, selenium, glutathione and L-cysteine all chelate mercury via competitive binding to sites in the cell.

The ideal chelator should:

• Be water-soluble
• Have a low affinity for calcium
• Not be stored in the body

When to Get Chelation Therapy

Although chelation therapy is often a treatment for metal toxicity, there are several other uses cases for it. This treatment is one of the more intensive to choose from and can be effective in helping you feel your best. People with a range of health concerns can find relief from this therapy, as it can reduce physical symptoms of several health issues. Your physician may recommend chelation therapy for various symptoms, such as those caused by osteoporosis, diabetes or chronic pain.

Chelation therapy may have a therapeutic effect on bone loss. These chelators can improve iron overload-induced osteoporosis and osteoporosis as a result of mechanical unloading, ionizing radiation, estrogen deficiency, and Alzheimer’s-associated deficits.

This therapy can also reduce risks for diabetes-associated cardiovascular events. New findings discuss a pivotal trailing highlighting a reduction in cardiovascular disease events in patients with diabetes. Metal chelation may be able to reduce reactions that promote adverse formations that can lead to diabetic atherosclerosis.

Many people also report less pain after chelation therapy. Those with lupus, arthritis, scleroderma, diabetes and other chronic inflammatory diseases saw an improvement in their conditions after treatment. EDTA can act as an antioxidant, protecting blood vessels and protecting the body from inflammation.

Signs of Metal Toxicity in Your Body

Chelation therapy is most common as a solution for addressing metal toxicity. Heavy metals can appear in many cultural products, from cosmetics to food to cookware. It’s important to recognize when you may have exposed yourself to metals that can harm your body and recognize the signs of possible toxicity.

Gastrointestinal problems are the most common feature of heavy metal poisoning or toxicity. However, many times, the symptoms an individual experiences are unique to a particular metal. We will be discussing the major metals, their sources and the symptoms associated with them.

Arsenic

Arsenic is a natural compound, and small quantities often appear in water, soil, air and rocks. You can also find this metal in wood preservatives, pesticides and poisons. It may be a contaminant in drinking water or coal combustion. Acute symptoms of arsenic poisoning can include:

• Gastroenteritis
• Hypotension
• Metabolic acidosis
• Garlic breath
• Torsades
• Seizures

Chronic symptoms can include:

• Pallor
• Skin pigmentation (raindrop pattern)
• Alopecia
• Myelosuppression
• Stocking-glove neuropathy

Iron

Medicines and supplements for treating anemia are the most common sources of iron overload in the body. Iron can directly impact your gastrointestinal and central nervous system. People who experience iron toxicity often go through several stages that can increase in severity without treatment. Acute symptoms of iron toxicity include:

• Severe necrotizing gastroenteritis
• Bloody vomiting and diarrhea
• Dyspnea
• Shock

Severe symptoms can lead to liver injury, hypotension and comas.

Lead

Lead-based paint chips (usually found in older houses), tap water, herbal remedies, glazed kitchenware and gas sniffling can contain lead. Although acute symptoms are not usually common, they could occur as gastrointestinal distress and pain, malaise, paresthesia and tinnitus.

Chronic symptoms could show as:

• Multi-system effects leading to lead colic
• Lead palsy
• Lead encephalopathy
• Anemia
• Reduced fertility
• Hepatitis

Patients usually feel very tired because of the anemia and are predisposed to heart disease because of the free radical activity.

Mercury

Mercury is a compound in salts in amalgams, dyes, batteries, cosmetics, electroplating, fireworks, fish, vapor inhalation, photography and several instruments. Acute mercury toxicity can result in:

• Chest pain
• Dyspnea
• Acute tubular necrosis
• Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis
• Pneumonitis
• Shock

Chronic symptoms can affect the nervous system, causing symptoms like ataxia, paresthesias, visual and auditory loss and teeth loosening. Mercury toxicity can depress the immune system and lead to an array of symptoms and concerns.

Benefits of Chelation Therapy

The many benefits of chelation therapy allow for continued use in the health sector. Research regarding toxicity has shown the benefits of chelation therapy to include:

• Direct and rapid cellular nutrition: Many cases of heavy metal poisoning present as emergencies. Chelation therapy offers a quick solution since it goes through the intravenous route and delivers immediate therapeutic effects.
• Possible alleviation of chronic disease symptoms: Chelation therapy has been touted as a possible remedy for some neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s. Some studies reveal that deposition of excess metals in the brain leads to these conditions and that chelation therapy is a possible solution.
• Potential cardiovascular effects: EDTA chelation therapy directly removes calcium in fatty plaques. Thus, it could relieve the blocking of arteries and blood vessels and the build-up of plaques in tissues. It can also reduce the debilitating effects of oxidative stress from oxygen ions and free radicals, thereby reducing vessel inflammation.
• Rejuvenation: Many times, chelation therapy benefits are immediate, and you might find previously tired people looking lively after treatment. Due to the improved circulation that comes with intravenous therapy, your body no longer needs to work overtime just to carry excess luggage.

Other Chelating Medications

Some examples of chelating agents are:

• Succimer: Can be used as an antidote for arsenic, lead or mercury poisoning
• Edetate Calcium Disodium: Used to treat lead poisoning
• Deferoxamine: Specifically for iron overload
• Penicillamine: Useful in treating arsenic poisoning
• Dimercaprol: Can also be used as an antidote for lead, arsenic and mercury poisoning

Potential side effects of these agents involve binding to trace metals, which the body might need. Others might experience fever, headache, nausea and vomiting. A couple of people might complain of a burning sensation around the intravenous site. However, if symptoms occur, they resolve shortly after and mostly do not lead to any serious complications in most patients who undergo treatment.

Possible Side Effects or Risks

As with any health treatment, chelation therapy possesses several risks, and some patients may experience side effects after treatment. With proper use, chelation therapy is safe, but some people may experience burning at the site of injection, nausea, headache, chills, diarrhea, fever or vomiting. Although serious side effects are uncommon, you could experience a drop in blood pressure, liver or kidney damage, severe allergic reactions, respiratory failure or seizures.

It is also possible for people to experience a metal deficiency from this treatment. Although there is a mirage of toxic metals that harm our bodies, there are several we need, such as zinc, copper and calcium. It’s possible for chelation therapy to impact the levels of these metals, leading to a deficiency while clearing out toxins.

Several conditions prohibit the use of this therapy. For example, you should not receive chelation therapy if you are or have:

• Hepatitis B
• Pregnant
• Congestive heart failure
• Late-stage kidney disease
• Using calcium channel blockers
• A history of Tuberculosis

Find Chelation IV Therapy Near You

Heavy metal poisoning has become a common health problem issue in our world today. It could result from industrial and agricultural activities, food consumption or exposure to certain drugs. Toxicity levels depend on the duration of exposure, quantity absorbed and the mode of absorption. Symptoms depend on the particular metal involved and the age of the person.

Be sure to consult with your GP before undergoing chelation therapy because it requires adequate medical supervision. If a person experiences heavy metal poisoning symptoms, they would likely need chelation therapy. The chelators bind to the heavy metals, making them water-soluble and inactive for easy excretion in the urine.

At IV Elements, you can access chelation IV therapy. We make it easy to receive dosages at home, work, any of our convenient locations or anywhere else you need. For information about the IV therapies at IV Elements, connect with us online.

REFERENCES

1. Heavy Metals in Cultural Products: https://www.epa.gov/children/heavy-metals-cultural-products

2. Not Just a Vitamin: Iron Toxicity and Management: https://poisoncontrol.utah.edu/news/2022/06/not-just-vitamin-iron-toxicity-and-management

3. Are You Drinking Enough Water?: https://medicalwesthospital.org/blog/are-you-drinking-enough-water/

4. Disease-Associated Metabolic Pathways Affected by Heavy Metals and Metalloid: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10313886/

5. Arsenic Toxicity: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK541125/

6. Arsenic Poisoning: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24727-arsenic-poisoning

7. Lead Poisoning: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lead-poisoning/symptoms-causes/syc-20354717

8. Lead Poisoning: Signs and Symptoms: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/ph/healthyenvironments/healthyneighborhoods/leadpoisoning/parentsfamilies/pages/signs.aspx

9. Lead and Heart Disease: an Underappreciated Link?: https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/lead-and-heart-disease-an-underappreciated-link

10. Medical Management Guidelines for Mercury: https://wwwn.cdc.gov/TSP/MMG/MMGDetails.aspx?mmgid=106&toxid=24

11. Iron Chelators as a Therapeutic Option for Alzheimer’s Disease—A Mini-Review: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/aging/articles/10.3389/fragi.2023.1234958/full

12. Heavy Metals Exposure and Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7454042/

13. Chelation Therapy Associated with Antioxidant Supplementation Can Decrease Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Multiple Sclerosis: Preliminary Results: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37507878/

14. Chelation therapy for heart disease: Does it work?: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/expert-answers/chelation-therapy/faq-20157449

15. What Is Chelation Therapy?: https://www.webmd.com/balance/what-is-chelation-therapy

16. Chelation Therapy: https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthwise/chelation-therapy-0

17. Chelation Therapy Side Effects: https://www.news-medical.net/health/Chelation-Therapy-Side-Effects.aspx

18. Therapy Potential of Iron Chelators on Osteoporosis and Other Cellular Mechanisms: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33601146/

19. Chelation Therapy to Prevent Diabetes-Associated Cardiovascular Events: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29846236/

20. Chelation Therapy: https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/health-wellness/health-encyclopedia/he.Chelation-Therapy.ty3205spec

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