2. American Heart
Association Website:
Chelation therapy is administering a man-
made amino acid called EDTA into the veins.
(EDTA is an abbreviation for ethylenediamine
tetraacetic acid. It’s marketed under several
names, including Edetate, Disodium, Endrate,
and Sodium Versenate.)
3. American Heart Association Website:
EDTA is most often used in cases of heavy
metal poisoning (lead or mercury). That’s
because it can latch onto or bind these
metals, creating a compound that can be
excreted in the urine.
4. Besides binding heavy metals, EDTA
also "chelates" (naturally seeks out
and binds) calcium, one of the
components of atherosclerotic
plaque.
5. In the early 1960s, this led to peculation
that EDTA could remove calcium deposits
from buildups in arteries. The idea was that
once the calcium was removed by regular
treatments of EDTA, the remaining
elements in the plaque would break up and
the plaque would clear away. The narrowed
arteries would be restored to their former
state.
6. Based upon this thinking,
chelation therapy has been
proposed to treat existing
atherosclerosis and to
prevent it from forming.
7. After carefully reviewing all the
available scientific literature on this
subject, the American Heart
Association has concluded that the
benefits claimed for this form of
therapy aren’t scientifically proven.
That’s why we don’t recommend this
type of treatment.
