Chelation as a Treatment for Autism

Chelation is an approved treatment for the removal of heavy metals, such as lead, from the body. It is also used in more controversial ways: for removing plaque from the arteries and for detoxing children with autism.

Some critics claim that people with autism do not have heavy metal built up in their tissues from vaccines, environment, etc. The controversy stems in part from the argument over what role, if any, vaccinations play in triggering autism.

Chelation is approved as a safe detoxification method for people who suffer from heavy metal poisoning, such as lead poisoning. It is generally only used in more severe cases, when removal from lead exposure is not enough to reduce the lead in the body (Lead Poisoning).

However, some studies suggest that some individuals with autism have an impaired ability to excrete toxins like lead, mercury, aluminum, etc. from their bodies(Glutathione). For one example, one substance that the body uses to get rid of heavy metal toxins, glutathione, seems to be present in diminished levels in some individuals with autism.

Another study performed on the hair of typical children (without autism or other neurological disorders) and children with an autism spectrum disorder, found elevated levels of mercury, aluminum, and other heavy metals that are found in vaccines and children's environments (water, food, etc.) in the hair of typical children. Little to no levels were being excreted through the hair of children with autism. The reason for this was that the children who had autism were unable to excrete the toxins as efficiently as the children who didn't have autism. Instead their bodies were storing the toxins in their tissues. Examination of urine and feces supported this finding; they were not effectively excreting the toxins through bodily waste either.

Chelation administered to some children with autism will cause elevated levels of many heavy metals, minerals, and toxins (aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, manganese, lithium, mercury, etc.) to become present in the child's urine, feces, and blood. While there are not always noticeable results from chelation therapy (improvements in behavior, cognition, etc.), there are almost always noticeable levels of toxin outputs in bodily waste (The Safety and Efficacy of Chelation Therapy in Autism, Bernard Rimland, Ph.D.).

Chelation therapy took a severe hit in media coverage several years ago when a young child with autism died after receiving intravenous chelation therapy (chelation). Although his death was initially thought to have been caused by chelation with Calcium Disodium EDTA, it was later realized that he had been mistakenly given Disodium EDTA; his death was, in effect, caused by drug error.

Chelation doesn't have to be administered intravenously, which is problematic for individuals with autism anyway (very few will tolerate a lengthy procedure involving needles). It can also be administered orally or transdermally.

Chelation has several different acceptable formulations as well: DMSA (dimercaptosuccinic acid), CaNa2EDTA (calcium disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate) , and DMPS (sodium salt of 2,3-dimercapto-1-propane sulfonic acid) are three of the most common types of chelators. The type your physician decides to use depends on the type of toxins you have been exposed to (Chelation Therapy).

Chelation has shown mixed results for individuals with autism. The earlier it is administered, the greater the beneficial results were noted. It is believed to be because the closer you administer treatment to the time of the exposure, the less time the toxins have to settle into tissue and do damage.

Each parent or guardian should educate themselves about the risks and benefits associated with chelation as well as the reputaion and skill of the physician they choose to see if they are interested in using chelation.

Sources:

http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/FL/00068.html

http://www.zimbio.com/Zeolite/articles/15/Chelation+therapy+EDTA+DMPS+DMSA+Zeolite+Let

http://www.autism.com/ari