Chelation
Chelation works like the body's natural sulfur defense system, wherein sticky molecules bind toxic metals to trap and eliminate them.
The commonly used chelators in autism treatment are DMSA, DMPS, and EDTA. All three of these are effective for removing lead and cadmium, while DMPS and DMSA are also effective for mercury, tin and arsenic. EDTA is also somewhat effective for aluminum.
EDTA and DMSA are available over the counter in the U.S., DMPS is not.
These three agents can be given orally or rectally (suppository), and DMPS and Calcium EDTA can be given intravenously. DMPS is also effective by intramuscular injection. Transdermal forms of all three are available, with proven efficacy for DMPS and DMSA, and uncertain efficacy for EDTA.
Typically, before a doctor begins chelation on your child he/she will perform a "challenge test" - the chelation drug is administered, followed by a timed urine test to help assess the body's burden of toxic elements. Seeing what types and the amounts of heavy metals excreted will help your doctor determine what chelator(s) to use and what method of administration to use.
It is not necessary to push chelation therapy too vigorously; the best rule is to "go low and go slow." Complete blood count (CBC) with platelet count and liver enzymes should be checked after the first or second cycle and, assuming no abnormalities are found, rechecked periodically while therapy continues. If elevated liver enzymes or depressed cell counts are found, the DMSA should be stopped and the laboratory tests followed until the values return to baseline. If the abnormalities were not too severe and they return to baseline promptly, the DMSA can be resumed at a lower dose with careful monitoring.
Intravenous EDTA chelation has been used safely for decades in thousands of elderly patients and in lead-poisoned children. However, questions about safety have arisen because two children have died from the improper use of a version of EDTA (disodium-instead of calcium-EDTA). They received the wrong drug (a mistake stemming from the drugs' similar names) by an improper intravenous technique, and died from severe depletion of blood calcium levels. If a child is treated with EDTA, it must be with the calcium EDTA drug, which has been proven safe.
Pre-Chelation Preparation
1. Treat Yeast and Bacteria
Because many children with autism struggle with yeast and bacteria overgrowth, it is important to treat these overgrowths before administering DMSA and ALA. DMSA and ALA will feed and exacerbate existing overgrowths and they will experience a worsening of autistic symptoms.
2. Supplement with Minerals
It is important to supplement with zinc, selenium, magnesium, molybdenum, manganese, vanadium and chromium. Because most autistic children have an excess of copper, any supplement give should not contain copper. Because DMSA will bind with zinc during the chelation process, supplementation of 1-2 mg/kg/day is recommended during chelation ("ON" days) and during the "OFF" days as well.
3. Supplements with Vitamins
Because of poor diets, poor absorptions, and environmental toxins, many vitamins are depleted in autistic children. During the process of removing heavy metals, it is especially important to support the body with antioxidants (Vitamin C, E, and Beta Carotene) and B Vitamins (B6, B12, Folate and Niacin). It is recommended that these supplements be added to the diet for at least a one-week period prior to the start of chelation. Always introduce new supplements one at a time every three days in order to assess a possible allergic reaction.
Other Important Supplements
Taurine - This supplement aids in the production of bile salts and it thought to aid in the elimination of toxins as well as fighting yeast. Many autistic children are deficient in Taurine.
L-Glutathione - Often deficient in children with autism, glutathione is important in the detoxification process and is a powerful antioxidant. Many physicians have recommended the transdermal form of glutathione to their patients.
Milk Thistle - An important herb, which is important for supporting and protecting the liver during chelation.
Melatonin - This pineal hormone helps to regulate the sleep/wake cycle, which is malfunctioning in many children with autism. Also a powerful antioxidant, melatonin may play an important part in protecting neurons from mercury damage. In addition, this hormone is concentrated in the mitochondria and therefore has a protectant effect against oxidative damage.
Alpha-Lipoic Acid - Also known as Lipoic Acid or ALA, this powerful antioxidant, is also very a potent chelating agent. ALA should be given in conjunction with DMSA only, and is usually added after a chelation period of at least four months with DMSA only. ALA is considered more effective at removing brain mercury than DMSA because it is fat soluble and capable of bypassing the blood/brain barrier.
Other Important Information
1. Abstain from fish and seafood due to mercury content
2. There must not be any amalgam (metal) fillings in the teeth. Use white composite material instead. Have all existing metal fillings removed BEFORE starting chelation. These fillings are sometime under crowns as well.
3. No more thimerosal-containing vaccines. Check package inserts of every vaccine before allowing them to be administered. Thimerosal is used as a preservative agent and contains close to 50% mercury.
4. Evaluate and eliminate any other sources of heavy metal contamination. It is recommended to drink only water that is purified by reverse osmosis or distillation. While undergoing chelation, lots of water should be consumed to facilitate excretion of metals through the urine.
5. Appropriate tests should be run to monitor blood counts, kidney and liver function, and mineral levels. Urine Metals tests can be run to evaluate the levels of metals being excreted.
When to stop Chelation Treatment
The decision to stop chelating should be based on clinical and laboratory evidence. Because Mercury can be tightly bound, chelation can last as long as one year for very young children, and longer for older children and adults. Some people stop chelating soon after improvement is no longer being seen and has reached a "plateau."
Another reason to stop chelation therapy is if the child shows no significant progress or experiences regression that does not cease after a round is completed. Some temporary regression can occur during initial rounds treatment, but should be followed soon by significant gains. Sometimes gains can be hidden by the side effects of yeast and bacteria overgrowth, which sometimes worsens during chelation therapy. It may be helpful to follow each round of chelation therapy with a 3-4 day course of natural antifungal and antibacterial products such as Oregano Oil, Grapefruit Seed Extract, MCT Oil, or Olive Leaf Extract. It is a good idea to rotate these products so the organisms do not have time to develop a resistance. Also, it is important to give a lot of good bacteria such as Lactobacillus to help keep the intestinal tract healthy.
Potential Side Effects
yeast or bacterial disturbances in the gut
depletion of trace minerals, especially zinc
stress on liver, kidneys, and bone marrow
rash
behavioral upset
serious allergic reactions are rare but possible
shock
low blood sugar
Potential Benefits (as reported by parents)
improved receptive and expressive language
improved eye contact
decrease in self-stimulatory behaviors ("stimming")
improved social interactions
improvement in muscle strength and coordination.
Sources:
http://legacy.autism.com/ari/editorials/ed_chelationoverview.htm
http://www.autismindia.com/article19.htm
The commonly used chelators in autism treatment are DMSA, DMPS, and EDTA. All three of these are effective for removing lead and cadmium, while DMPS and DMSA are also effective for mercury, tin and arsenic. EDTA is also somewhat effective for aluminum.
EDTA and DMSA are available over the counter in the U.S., DMPS is not.
These three agents can be given orally or rectally (suppository), and DMPS and Calcium EDTA can be given intravenously. DMPS is also effective by intramuscular injection. Transdermal forms of all three are available, with proven efficacy for DMPS and DMSA, and uncertain efficacy for EDTA.
Typically, before a doctor begins chelation on your child he/she will perform a "challenge test" - the chelation drug is administered, followed by a timed urine test to help assess the body's burden of toxic elements. Seeing what types and the amounts of heavy metals excreted will help your doctor determine what chelator(s) to use and what method of administration to use.
It is not necessary to push chelation therapy too vigorously; the best rule is to "go low and go slow." Complete blood count (CBC) with platelet count and liver enzymes should be checked after the first or second cycle and, assuming no abnormalities are found, rechecked periodically while therapy continues. If elevated liver enzymes or depressed cell counts are found, the DMSA should be stopped and the laboratory tests followed until the values return to baseline. If the abnormalities were not too severe and they return to baseline promptly, the DMSA can be resumed at a lower dose with careful monitoring.
Intravenous EDTA chelation has been used safely for decades in thousands of elderly patients and in lead-poisoned children. However, questions about safety have arisen because two children have died from the improper use of a version of EDTA (disodium-instead of calcium-EDTA). They received the wrong drug (a mistake stemming from the drugs' similar names) by an improper intravenous technique, and died from severe depletion of blood calcium levels. If a child is treated with EDTA, it must be with the calcium EDTA drug, which has been proven safe.
Pre-Chelation Preparation
1. Treat Yeast and Bacteria
Because many children with autism struggle with yeast and bacteria overgrowth, it is important to treat these overgrowths before administering DMSA and ALA. DMSA and ALA will feed and exacerbate existing overgrowths and they will experience a worsening of autistic symptoms.
2. Supplement with Minerals
It is important to supplement with zinc, selenium, magnesium, molybdenum, manganese, vanadium and chromium. Because most autistic children have an excess of copper, any supplement give should not contain copper. Because DMSA will bind with zinc during the chelation process, supplementation of 1-2 mg/kg/day is recommended during chelation ("ON" days) and during the "OFF" days as well.
3. Supplements with Vitamins
Because of poor diets, poor absorptions, and environmental toxins, many vitamins are depleted in autistic children. During the process of removing heavy metals, it is especially important to support the body with antioxidants (Vitamin C, E, and Beta Carotene) and B Vitamins (B6, B12, Folate and Niacin). It is recommended that these supplements be added to the diet for at least a one-week period prior to the start of chelation. Always introduce new supplements one at a time every three days in order to assess a possible allergic reaction.
Other Important Supplements
Taurine - This supplement aids in the production of bile salts and it thought to aid in the elimination of toxins as well as fighting yeast. Many autistic children are deficient in Taurine.
L-Glutathione - Often deficient in children with autism, glutathione is important in the detoxification process and is a powerful antioxidant. Many physicians have recommended the transdermal form of glutathione to their patients.
Milk Thistle - An important herb, which is important for supporting and protecting the liver during chelation.
Melatonin - This pineal hormone helps to regulate the sleep/wake cycle, which is malfunctioning in many children with autism. Also a powerful antioxidant, melatonin may play an important part in protecting neurons from mercury damage. In addition, this hormone is concentrated in the mitochondria and therefore has a protectant effect against oxidative damage.
Alpha-Lipoic Acid - Also known as Lipoic Acid or ALA, this powerful antioxidant, is also very a potent chelating agent. ALA should be given in conjunction with DMSA only, and is usually added after a chelation period of at least four months with DMSA only. ALA is considered more effective at removing brain mercury than DMSA because it is fat soluble and capable of bypassing the blood/brain barrier.
Other Important Information
1. Abstain from fish and seafood due to mercury content
2. There must not be any amalgam (metal) fillings in the teeth. Use white composite material instead. Have all existing metal fillings removed BEFORE starting chelation. These fillings are sometime under crowns as well.
3. No more thimerosal-containing vaccines. Check package inserts of every vaccine before allowing them to be administered. Thimerosal is used as a preservative agent and contains close to 50% mercury.
4. Evaluate and eliminate any other sources of heavy metal contamination. It is recommended to drink only water that is purified by reverse osmosis or distillation. While undergoing chelation, lots of water should be consumed to facilitate excretion of metals through the urine.
5. Appropriate tests should be run to monitor blood counts, kidney and liver function, and mineral levels. Urine Metals tests can be run to evaluate the levels of metals being excreted.
When to stop Chelation Treatment
The decision to stop chelating should be based on clinical and laboratory evidence. Because Mercury can be tightly bound, chelation can last as long as one year for very young children, and longer for older children and adults. Some people stop chelating soon after improvement is no longer being seen and has reached a "plateau."
Another reason to stop chelation therapy is if the child shows no significant progress or experiences regression that does not cease after a round is completed. Some temporary regression can occur during initial rounds treatment, but should be followed soon by significant gains. Sometimes gains can be hidden by the side effects of yeast and bacteria overgrowth, which sometimes worsens during chelation therapy. It may be helpful to follow each round of chelation therapy with a 3-4 day course of natural antifungal and antibacterial products such as Oregano Oil, Grapefruit Seed Extract, MCT Oil, or Olive Leaf Extract. It is a good idea to rotate these products so the organisms do not have time to develop a resistance. Also, it is important to give a lot of good bacteria such as Lactobacillus to help keep the intestinal tract healthy.
Potential Side Effects
yeast or bacterial disturbances in the gut
depletion of trace minerals, especially zinc
stress on liver, kidneys, and bone marrow
rash
behavioral upset
serious allergic reactions are rare but possible
shock
low blood sugar
Potential Benefits (as reported by parents)
improved receptive and expressive language
improved eye contact
decrease in self-stimulatory behaviors ("stimming")
improved social interactions
improvement in muscle strength and coordination.
Sources:
http://legacy.autism.com/ari/editorials/ed_chelationoverview.htm
http://www.autismindia.com/article19.htm
