If you’ve ever researched a little about how to be healthy on a natural level when it comes to heart health, you’ve surely heard of chelation therapy. It’s talked about in wellness forums, in integrative medicine clinics, and on the environmental toxins discussion list with big promises. So what is chelation therapy, and what do the studies on chelation therapy and heart health have to say? And do you feel it’s right for you?
This guide explains what chelation therapy is, what happens during a heavy metal detox session, evidence considerations, and thinking about chelation therapy as part of an integrative care strategy.
What Is Chelation Therapy?
Chelation therapy is a medical treatment involving the use of a chemical substance called a chelating agent, which most commonly is ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), that can bind metals in the bloodstream. When the metal-EDTA compound is bound, it is excreted by the kidneys and excreted in urine. The word chelation is derived from the Greek word chela, meaning claw, as the compound attaches to metal ions.
EDTA chelation therapy is a therapy approved by the FDA for acute heavy metal poisoning, such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and iron overload conditions such as hemochromatosis. For these indications, it has been used for decades in clinical practice in occupational medicine and toxicology.
Things get more advanced when it comes to chelation therapy for the heart. Chelation may be part of a cardiovascular support therapy provided by some integrative and functional medicine practitioners, which has the theory that the process of calcium and metal chelation from arterial plaque can help cardiovascular function. This is a different procedure than the FDA-approved heavy metal poisoning procedure, and it is important to know this difference before beginning a protocol.
Why People Look Into Chelation Therapy for Heart Health
People usually try this treatment for two reasons:
- Heavy metal toxicity symptoms – fatigue, brain fog, joint pain, digestive problems, or a heightened concentration of metals from lab testing, which frequently are associated with dental amalgam, old plumbing, dental sealants, certain seafood, or occupational exposure to heavy metals.
- Interest in cardiovascular support – an interest in treating cardiovascular conditions in the context of an integrative approach to circulation and arterial health, not as a replacement for conventional cardiology treatment.
These are two completely different objectives, and the fair initial move with anybody that’s qualified is testing, not treatment. Before any IV protocol is initiated, make sure that metal burden is not a factor by having a hair mineral analysis, blood panel, or urine toxic metals test.
What a Chelation Therapy Session Actually Involves
In a medical environment, IV chelation therapy is performed under the care of a physician. Let’s go over what to anticipate in reality:
- Initial consultation and labs. Your provider examines your medical records, your current medications, kidney function, and whether you’ve been exposed to a high dose of metal in the past; you have baseline bloodwork performed.
- IV infusion. EDTA is administered intravenously via the vein, usually in combination with fluid and sometimes with vitamins and/or minerals. Each session is 1 – 3 hours in duration.
- Monitoring. Throughout, there are signs of life and relaxation, and EDTA may also remove calcium, zinc, magnesium, and other beneficial minerals and heavy metals.
- A treatment series, not a single visit. Most protocols are made up of several sessions and may be weeks to months long, and labs are performed around the sessions to see how things are going and make changes accordingly.
- Post-session guidance. Aftercare is typically focused on hydration, electrolyte replacement, and repletion of nutrients – chelation is a whole-body process, rather than a stand-alone procedure.
That’s why chelation should be considered as part of a comprehensive treatment plan, rather than a one-size-fits-all solution, and why an internal medicine doctor with a background in conventional and integrative medicine would be the appropriate one to carefully review the choice.
What the Research Actually Shows
This is a therapy that involves medical decisions and should be thoroughly examined with a critical eye – not only based on marketing claims.
- Chelation therapy is recognized and used to treat heavy metal toxicity and some conditions involving metal overload, and has been approved for such by the FDA.
- The use specifically for CAD is more controversial. The NIH-supported Trial to Assess Chelation Therapy (TACT) did show a slight decrease in cardiovascular events in one subgroup – those with diabetes who already had a heart attack – but a subsequent study, Trial to Assess Chelation Therapy 2 (TACT2), failed to duplicate the effect.
- Major health organisations, such as the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology, have said there is not enough evidence for chelation to be routinely prescribed for people with heart disease, and the FDA has not authorised chelation for that purpose.
- Chelation should not be a replacement for proven cardiovascular care, which includes proper control of blood pressure, cholesterol and lifestyle change – it may be a supplement to that for the right patient, performed under guidance, but not necessarily a replacement.
Any reputable provider should be able to give you a detailed explanation of this evidence in good faith, not offer you hope that chelation is a sure cure for heart disease. The transparency is just what you should be seeking when deciding where you will be treated.
Who Might Be a Candidate – and Who Should Be Cautious
Chelation therapy isn’t right for everyone. In general, it is better suited for:
- People who have laboratory results showing they have high levels of heavy metal contaminants in their bodies
- Individuals who have had documented occupational/environmental history
- Patients as part of a larger integrative or functional medicine program, in conjunction with their heart doctor or primary care physician
It’s generally not suitable for:
- Women of childbearing age (pregnant or breastfeeding)
- People with significant kidney impairment (since the kidneys clear the chelating agent)
- Individuals who want to use it in place of a formal heart disease medication without medical supervision
This is why it’s important to conduct a baseline test, and checking the function of the kidneys and make sure there is a physician’s supervision before any chelation therapy near me search actually turns into a scheduled visit.
What to Ask Before You Start
For any provider, it’s always a great idea to ask these questions before booking a session:
- What laboratory testing will happen prior to and while receiving treatment?
- How well do my kidneys work, and how will they be monitored?
- Are there realistic objectives – heavy metal detox or cardiovascular support, or both?
- What are the side effects of chelation therapy and how are they treated?
- How can this complement my current cardiovascular or general practitioner’s care?
If these inquiries are encouraged and your current health care providers are brought into the process, the provider is most likely responsible and patient-centered.
Possible Side Effects to Know About
Chelation therapy is a medical therapy similar to IV therapy and carries its own risks, making it another good reason for supervision. Side effects that have been reported include:
- Sitting down during infusion or lightheadedness during infusion
- Irritation of the veins at the IV insertion site
- Mineral imbalances (specifically low calcium) unless monitored properly
- Headache or tiredness after treatment
- Rare but serious risks involve kidney stress if the therapy is not carefully dosed and monitored.
These risks are another good reason why chelation therapy should be specialized to a licensed physician who has been trained in proper lab monitoring rather than administered in an unlicensed or unsupervised environment.
The Bottom Line
There is chelation therapy, a medically proven, FDA-approved procedure that can be used to treat heavy metal poisoning, and some integrative practitioners use this therapy wisely in cardiovascular support protocols. Research results regarding chelation therapy for heart disease vary, however, and it works best when taken as part of an individualized, supervised, evidence-based treatment plan rather than as a standalone treatment. Whether you’re considering heavy metal detox or integrative methods to cardiovascular wellness, it is important to have a comprehensive workup and a consultation with your doctor who can help you navigate the conventional and integrative components of your options.
Our chelation therapy program at the Center for Integrative & Traditional Medicine in Paramus, NJ, is physician-managed, lab-tested, protocol-specific, and monitored. You know what you are getting and why. It is often used with our IV nutrient therapy services for replenishment and is complementary to care provided by our internal medicine treatments to ensure your treatment plan is a complete picture of your health. Environmental exposure as the cause can sometimes be helpful for patients who believe it is a root cause, to educate them more about mold exposure and chronic illness, and gut health and detoxification as related root cause factors. In fact, our recommendations on heart-healthy Diet Tips are helpful if cardiovascular wellness is your ultimate concern, and can be used in conjunction with any chelation discussion.
Give us a call to get an evaluation appointment with Dr. Roman Finn and see if chelation therapy is your next step.
Frequently Asked Questions: Chelation Therapy
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved chelation therapy for the treatment of known heavy metal poisoning (e.g., lead, mercury, cadmium poisoning) and metal overload diseases (e.g., hemochromatosis). In addition, some integrative providers delve into it as an additional benefit to cardiovascular wellness, but this use is less researched than the others described above.
Some evidence, some not. One study (the large NIH-funded trial, or TACT) revealed a slight but significant advantage in a specific subset of heart attack survivors who had diabetes, whereas another study (TACT2) did not. Large medical groups have judged that there is not enough evidence to make it a routine prevention or treatment for heart disease, and that it is used as an adjunct, not instead of, standard heart disease treatment.
This is dependent on each person and is determined by starting lab levels, goals, and the patient’s reaction to treatment. Each of these protocols is a series of sessions over a number of weeks or months with occasional laboratory monitoring to determine progress and plan modifications.
Chelation therapy, if done by a licensed doctor and with appropriate lab monitoring, is relatively safe to perform. Side effects include lightheadedness, irritation of veins, and mineral imbalance. Medical supervision and pre-treatment testing can be of great benefit, as it is not recommended in pregnant women or individuals who may have serious kidney disease.
Typical side effects of heavy metal toxicity include headaches, digestive problems, brain fog, joint pain, and muscle pain – all of which can overlap with a variety of other conditions. Only blood, urine, or hair mineral testing performed by a qualified provider can ensure you are sure.
There are several general detox programs that help support the body’s natural detoxification processes, such as diet changes, supplements, and sauna therapy; however, these methods will not explicitly remove bound heavy metals from the bloodstream. It is also a medical treatment and not a self-treatment program, which involves chelation, the direct binding and removal of metals.
Center for Integrative & Traditional Medicine in Paramus, NJ: Physician-supervised chelation therapy, custom testing & monitoring. Contact the office to learn whether it’s an appropriate fit for your health goals.