Does anyone here know anything about chelation therapy using EDTA?  My
uncle has emphesema, and a doctor wants to try it on him.  We are
wondering if:

1.  Is there any evidence EDTA chelation therapy is beneficial for his
condition, or any condition?

2.  What possible side effects are there.  How can they be mimimized?

Thanks,
Renee

EDTA(chelation therapy) has been used by some physicians to try to remove
calcium from calcified plaques in the arterial system(not approved for such
use).  There is also the possibility that lung tissue in patients with lung
disease has become calcified(chest x-rays would show this).  There are side
-effects to the use of EDTA because it is not specific for calcium(it also
binds other minerals).  I think that there have been some deaths when
EDTA chelation therapy has been used because of mineral imbalances that
were not detected and corrected.  In animal studies, the best way to remove
calcium from plaques in rabbits was to supplement the rabbits with vitamin C
and magnesium(rabbits already synthesize their own vitamin C, the extra
vitamin C was given in their diets to help the magnesium displace the calcium
from the plaques).

The calcification process that occurs in both plaques and the lung probably
can be prevented if magnesium is used in supplemental form.  Most patietns
with calcium deposits are found to be deficient in calcium.

        1. "Magnesium interrationships in ischemic heart disease: A review"
           Am J Clin Nutr 27(1):59-79(1974).  Supplementation with
           magnesium will prevent clacification of {*filter*} vessels.

        2. "The importance of magnesium deficiency in cardiovascular
            disease" Am. Heart J 94:649-57(1977).  The need to measure the
            serum concentration in all patients with heat disease cannot be
            overemphasized.  This is a review article.

        3. "Effect of dietary magnesium on development of atherosclerosis
           in cholesterol-fed rabbits" Atherosclerosis 10:732-7(1990).  
           Magnesium supplementation greatly decreased the formation of
           plaques in rabbits feed a diet that had 1% by weight cholesterrol
           added to their normal food.

Since EDTA will also bind magnesium, I've never really liked it's use for
the reversal of athersclerosis or now apparently in emphesema patients.

Marty B.