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Chelation is here to stay

Started by Jan · · Last activity · 7 posts · 472 views

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General fitness, health and nutrition
Published
17 May 2004
Last activity
17 May 2004
Original author
Jan
Posts
7
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  1. Inspite of the witch hunts and dirty tactics of
    *organized medicine*

    Facts are, people are using it will success. They know all
    about the efforts to stop it, they are aware of the group of
    debunkers who eagerly claim, it doesn't work, rather than it
    remains unproven. They are only concerned with RESULTS. It
    is a real pity that this dirty tactic group could care less
    if it saves from sawing open the chest and having bypasses.
    They are the group who want no further studies.

    nccam.nih.govpressrelease.htm

    The National Center for Complementary and Alternative
    Medicine (NCCAM) and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood
    Institute (NHLBI), components of the National Institutes of
    Health (NIH), have launched the first large-scale clinical
    trial to determine the safety and efficacy of EDTA
    chelation therapy in individuals with coronary artery
    disease, the leading cause of death for both men and women
    in the United States.

    The 5-year Trial To Assess Chelation Therapy (TACT) will
    involve over 2,300 patients at more than 100 research sites
    across the country.

    "The public health imperative to undertake a definitive
    study of chelation therapy is clear. The widespread use
    of chelation therapy in lieu of established therapies,
    the lack of adequate prior research to verify its safety
    and effectiveness, and the overall impact of coronary
    artery disease convinced NIH that the time is right to
    launch this rigorous study," said Stephen E. Straus,
    M.D., NCCAM Director.

    Over 800,000 patient visits were made for chelation therapy
    in the United States in 1997. Chelation therapy involves the
    use of EDTA (ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid), a
    synthetic amino acid that is administered intravenously
    (through the veins). EDTA, which effectively speeds removal
    of heavy metals and minerals such as lead, iron, copper, and
    calcium from the blood, is approved by the U.S. Food and
    Drug Administration (FDA) for use in treating lead poisoning
    and toxicity from other heavy metals. Although it is not
    approved by the FDA to treat coronary artery disease, some
    physicians and alternative medicine practitioners have
    recommended EDTA chelation as a way to treat this disorder.

    Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a type of heart disease in
    which the coronary arteries (vessels that supply oxygen-
    carrying blood to the heart) become blocked by deposits of a
    fatty substance called plaque. As plaque builds, the
    arteries become narrower and less oxygen and nutrients are
    transported to the heart for proper function. CAD can lead
    to serious health problems such as angina (pain caused by
    insufficient oxygen-carrying blood reaching the heart) and
    heart attack.

    There are standard and well-proven ways to reduce the risks
    or complications of CAD. These include stopping smoking and
    controlling high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol
    through lifestyle changes and medication. More invasive
    procedures are used to treat symptomatic CAD including
    balloon angioplasty (dilation of a blocked artery to open it
    up) or coronary artery bypass surgery (using arteries or
    veins from other areas of the body to create detours for
    blood flow around areas of blockage in the heart artery).

    "NCCAM's leadership in initiating and supporting this study
    is to be commended," said NHLBI Director Claude Lenfant,
    M.D. "It is important for heart disease patients to know
    whether we should add chelation therapy to the list of
    proven treatments for coronary artery disease. Scientific
    evidence is needed to resolve this issue. And only a large
    clinical trial can definitively answer the question of
    whether chelation treatment is truly safe and effective,"
    added Lenfant.

    The randomized, double-blind study will enroll 2,372
    patients aged 50 or older who have had a heart attack. The
    $30 million study, led by Gervasio A. Lamas,
    M.D., director of cardiovascular research and academic
    affairs at Mount Sinai Medical Center-Miami Heart
    Institute in Miami Beach, Florida, will test whether
    EDTA chelation therapy and/or high-dose vitamin therapy
    is effective for the treatment of CAD. Vitamin and
    mineral supplements, consistent with the regimen used by
    practitioners who deliver EDTA chelation therapy, will
    be used in the study.

    Following baseline assessments, about 1,186 patients will be
    randomly assigned to receive a standardized chelation
    solution, and about 1,186 patients will receive a placebo
    (dummy) solution. Each of these two groups will additionally
    be randomized to receive high-dose vitamin/mineral
    supplements versus low-dose vitamin/mineral supplements.
    Study participants will receive 30 weekly infusions of EDTA
    chelation therapy followed by 10 bimonthly infusions. All
    patients enrolled will be followed until the end of the
    study to observe any significant clinical benefits or side
    effects. The primary study endpoint (a marker of
    improvement) of this trial will be a composite of heart
    attack, stroke, hospitalization for angina (pain associated
    with CAD), coronary revascularization, and death. The study
    will also evaluate cardiac deaths, nonfatal heart attacks,
    health-related quality of life, and cost effectiveness,
    among other factors.

    TACT includes a Data Coordinating Center led by Kerry Lee,
    Ph.D., and a Quality of Life Coordinating Center led by
    Daniel Mark, M.D., M.P.H., both at the Duke Clinical
    Research Institute in Durham, North Carolina. In addition,
    an independent Data Safety Monitoring Board will oversee
    the study.

    Patient recruitment for the study is expected to begin in
    March 2003, after preparations are completed to enroll
    participants at the many study sites.

    Questions and answers about this study are located at
    www.nccam.nih.gov/news/2002/chelation/q-and-a.htm.

    Information about the study, locations, and enrollment will
    be available from the NCCAM Web site and from
    ClinicalTrials.gov, the NIH Web site for clinical trial
    information.

    ------------------------------------------------------------
    --------------
    ------

    The National Center for Complementary and Alternative
    Medicine (NCCAM) is dedicated to exploring complementary and
    alternative medical (CAM) practices in the context of
    rigorous science, training CAM researchers, and
    disseminating authoritative information to the public and
    professionals. For additional information, call NCCAM's
    Clearinghouse toll free at 1-888-644-6226, or visit the
    NCCAM Web site at nccam.nih.gov.

    The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) plans,
    conducts, and supports research related to the causes,
    prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of heart, blood vessel,
    lung, and blood diseases; and sleep disorders. For
    additional information, contact the NHLBI Health Information
    Center at 301-592-8573, or visit the NHLBI Web site at
    www.nhlbi.nih.gov.

    Jan

  2. "Jan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Inspite of the witch hunts and dirty tactics of *organized
    medicine*

    Facts are, people are using it will success. They know all
    about the


    efforts to

    Quoted message said:

    stop it, they are aware of the group of debunkers who
    eagerly claim, it


    doesn't

    Quoted message said:

    work, rather than it remains unproven. They are only
    concerned with


    RESULTS. It

    Quoted message said:

    is a real pity that this dirty tactic group could care
    less if it saves


    from

    Quoted message said:

    sawing open the chest and having bypasses. They are the
    group who want no further studies.

    nccam.nih.govpressrelease.htm

    The National Center for Complementary and Alternative
    Medicine (NCCAM) and


    the

    Quoted message said:

    National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI),
    components of the


    National

    Quoted message said:

    Institutes of Health (NIH), have launched the first large-
    scale clinical


    trial

    Quoted message said:

    to determine the safety and efficacy of EDTA chelation
    therapy in


    individuals

    Quoted message said:

    with coronary artery disease, the leading cause of death
    for both men and


    women

    Quoted message said:

    in the United States.

    The 5-year Trial To Assess Chelation Therapy (TACT) will
    involve over


    2,300

    Quoted message said:

    patients at more than 100 research sites across the
    country.

    "The public health imperative to undertake a definitive
    study of chelation therapy is clear. The widespread use of
    chelation therapy in lieu of established therapies, the
    lack of adequate prior research to verify its


    safety

    Quoted message said:

    and effectiveness, and the overall impact of coronary
    artery disease


    convinced

    Quoted message said:

    NIH that the time is right to launch this rigorous study,"
    said Stephen E. Straus, M.D., NCCAM Director.

    Over 800,000 patient visits were made for chelation
    therapy in the United States in 1997. Chelation therapy
    involves the use of EDTA (ethylene


    diamine

    Quoted message said:

    tetra-acetic acid), a synthetic amino acid that is
    administered


    intravenously

    Quoted message said:

    (through the veins). EDTA, which effectively speeds
    removal of heavy


    metals and

    Quoted message said:

    minerals such as lead, iron, copper, and calcium from the
    blood, is


    approved by

    Quoted message said:

    the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in
    treating lead


    poisoning

    Quoted message said:

    and toxicity from other heavy metals. Although it is not
    approved by the


    FDA to

    Quoted message said:

    treat coronary artery disease, some physicians and
    alternative medicine practitioners have recommended EDTA
    chelation as a way to treat this


    disorder.

    Quoted message said:


    Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a type of heart disease
    in which the


    coronary

    Quoted message said:

    arteries (vessels that supply oxygen-carrying blood to the
    heart) become blocked by deposits of a fatty substance
    called plaque. As plaque builds,


    the

    Quoted message said:

    arteries become narrower and less oxygen and nutrients are
    transported to


    the

    Quoted message said:

    heart for proper function. CAD can lead to serious health
    problems such as angina (pain caused by insufficient oxygen-
    carrying blood reaching the


    heart)

    Quoted message said:

    and heart attack.

    There are standard and well-proven ways to reduce the
    risks or


    complications of

    Quoted message said:

    CAD. These include stopping smoking and controlling high
    blood pressure


    and

    Quoted message said:

    high blood cholesterol through lifestyle changes and
    medication. More


    invasive

    Quoted message said:

    procedures are used to treat symptomatic CAD including
    balloon angioplasty (dilation of a blocked artery to open
    it up) or coronary artery bypass


    surgery

    Quoted message said:

    (using arteries or veins from other areas of the body to
    create detours


    for

    Quoted message said:

    blood flow around areas of blockage in the heart artery).

    "NCCAM's leadership in initiating and supporting this
    study is to be commended," said NHLBI Director Claude
    Lenfant, M.D. "It is important for


    heart

    Quoted message said:

    disease patients to know whether we should add chelation
    therapy to the


    list of

    Quoted message said:

    proven treatments for coronary artery disease. Scientific
    evidence is


    needed to

    Quoted message said:

    resolve this issue. And only a large clinical trial can
    definitively


    answer the

    Quoted message said:

    question of whether chelation treatment is truly safe and
    effective,"


    added

    Quoted message said:

    Lenfant.

    The randomized, double-blind study will enroll 2,372
    patients aged 50 or


    older

    Quoted message said:

    who have had a heart attack. The $30 million study, led by
    Gervasio A.


    Lamas,

    Quoted message said:

    M.D., director of cardiovascular research and academic
    affairs at Mount


    Sinai

    Quoted message said:

    Medical Center-Miami Heart Institute in Miami Beach,
    Florida, will test


    whether

    Quoted message said:

    EDTA chelation therapy and/or high-dose vitamin therapy is
    effective for


    the

    Quoted message said:

    treatment of CAD. Vitamin and mineral supplements,
    consistent with the


    regimen

    Quoted message said:

    used by practitioners who deliver EDTA chelation therapy,
    will be used in


    the

    Quoted message said:

    study.

    Following baseline assessments, about 1,186 patients will
    be randomly


    assigned

    Quoted message said:

    to receive a standardized chelation solution, and about
    1,186 patients


    will

    Quoted message said:

    receive a placebo (dummy) solution. Each of these two
    groups will


    additionally

    Quoted message said:

    be randomized to receive high-dose vitamin/mineral
    supplements versus


    low-dose

    Quoted message said:

    vitamin/mineral supplements. Study participants will
    receive 30 weekly infusions of EDTA chelation therapy
    followed by 10 bimonthly infusions.


    All

    Quoted message said:

    patients enrolled will be followed until the end of the
    study to observe


    any

    Quoted message said:

    significant clinical benefits or side effects. The primary
    study endpoint


    (a

    Quoted message said:

    marker of improvement) of this trial will be a composite
    of heart attack, stroke, hospitalization for angina (pain
    associated with CAD), coronary revascularization, and
    death. The study will also evaluate cardiac deaths,
    nonfatal heart attacks, health-related quality of life,
    and cost


    effectiveness,

    Quoted message said:

    among other factors.

    TACT includes a Data Coordinating Center led by Kerry Lee,
    Ph.D., and a


    Quality

    Quoted message said:

    of Life Coordinating Center led by Daniel Mark, M.D.,
    M.P.H., both at the


    Duke

    Quoted message said:

    Clinical Research Institute in Durham, North Carolina. In
    addition, an independent Data Safety Monitoring Board will
    oversee the study.

    Patient recruitment for the study is expected to begin in
    March 2003,


    after

    Quoted message said:

    preparations are completed to enroll participants at the
    many study sites.

    Questions and answers about this study are located at
    www.nccam.nih.gov/news/2002/chelation/q-and-a.htm.

    Information about the study, locations, and enrollment
    will be available


    from

    Quoted message said:

    the NCCAM Web site and from ClinicalTrials.gov, the NIH
    Web site for


    clinical

    Quoted message said:

    trial information.

    ----------------------------------------------------------
    ----------------
    ------

    The National Center for Complementary and Alternative
    Medicine (NCCAM) is dedicated to exploring complementary
    and alternative medical (CAM)


    practices in

    Quoted message said:

    the context of rigorous science, training CAM
    researchers, and


    disseminating

    Quoted message said:

    authoritative information to the public and professionals.
    For additional information, call NCCAM's Clearinghouse
    toll free at 1-888-644-6226, or


    visit

    Quoted message said:

    the NCCAM Web site at nccam.nih.gov.

    The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
    plans, conducts, and supports research related to the
    causes, prevention, diagnosis, and


    treatment

    Quoted message said:

    of heart, blood vessel, lung, and blood diseases; and
    sleep disorders. For additional information, contact the
    NHLBI Health Information Center at 301-592-8573, or visit
    the NHLBI Web site at www.nhlbi.nih.gov.

    Jan

    My prediction is that chelation will continue to fail to
    produce results in controlled research trials, but alas,
    Jan, you are right. It IS "here to stay" for the same reason
    that homeopathy and laetrile are still around. As long as
    there are rubes willing to buy it and quacks willing to sell
    it, it will be here to stay.

    --Rich

  3. In article <[email hidden]>,

    (Jan) said:

    Inspite of the witch hunts and dirty tactics of *organized
    medicine*

    Facts are, people are using it will success. They know all
    about the efforts to stop it, they are aware of the group
    of debunkers who eagerly claim, it doesn't work, rather
    than it remains unproven. They are only concerned with
    RESULTS. It is a real pity that this dirty tactic group
    could care less if it saves from sawing open the chest and
    having bypasses. They are the group who want no further
    studies.

    nccam.nih.govpressrelease.htm

    The National Center for Complementary and Alternative
    Medicine (NCCAM) and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood
    Institute (NHLBI), components of the National Institutes
    of Health (NIH), have launched the first large-scale
    clinical trial to determine the safety and efficacy of
    EDTA chelation therapy in individuals with coronary artery
    disease, the leading cause of death for both men and women
    in the United States.

    The 5-year Trial To Assess Chelation Therapy (TACT) will
    involve over 2,300 patients at more than 100 research
    sites across the country.

    This is old news Jan.

    What this means is that chelation will be around until maybe
    2007, when the trial is complete.

    --
    Orac |"A statement of fact cannot be insolent."
    |
    |"If you cannot listen to the answers, why do
    |you inconvenience me with questions?"

  4. "Jan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Inspite of the witch hunts and dirty tactics of *organized
    medicine*

    Facts are, people are using it will success. They know all
    about the


    efforts to

    Quoted message said:

    stop it, they are aware of the group of debunkers who
    eagerly claim, it


    doesn't

    Quoted message said:

    work, rather than it remains unproven. They are only
    concerned with


    RESULTS.

    The TruthSquad is also concerned with results. That is, REAl
    results where there is demonstrable increased blood flow,
    opening of narroed arterial lumina, and saving people's
    lives, not lulling them into a false sense of security.

    It

    Quoted message said:

    is a real pity that this dirty tactic group could care
    less if it saves


    from

    Quoted message said:

    sawing open the chest and having bypasses. They are the
    group who want no further studies.

    Wrong, as has been posted here.

    With this post, it becomes icily clear that JanDrew will lie
    to trash anyone who does not fawn over alternative
    treatments.

  5. In article <[email hidden]>,

    Rich Shewmaker said:

    My prediction is that chelation will continue to fail to
    produce results in controlled research trials, but alas,
    Jan, you are right. It IS "here to stay" for the same
    reason that homeopathy and laetrile are still around. As
    long as there are rubes willing to buy it and quacks
    willing to sell it, it will be here to stay.

    Sad, but true. As long as there are quacks to push such
    things and people like Jan gullible enough to go for it,
    they will be around.

    --
    Orac |"A statement of fact cannot be insolent."
    |
    |"If you cannot listen to the answers, why do
    |you inconvenience me with questions?"

  6. "Orac" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    In article <[email hidden]>,

    (Jan) said:

    Inspite of the witch hunts and dirty tactics of
    *organized medicine*

    Facts are, people are using it will success. They know
    all about the


    efforts

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    to stop it, they are aware of the group of debunkers who
    eagerly claim, it doesn't work, rather than it remains
    unproven. They are only concerned with


    RESULTS.

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    It is a real pity that this dirty tactic group could
    care less if it saves


    from

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    sawing open the chest and having bypasses. They are the
    group who want


    no

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    further studies.

    nccam.nih.govpressrelea
    se.htm

    The National Center for Complementary and Alternative
    Medicine (NCCAM)


    and

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI),
    components of the


    National

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    Institutes of Health (NIH), have launched the first large-
    scale clinical trial to determine the safety and
    efficacy of EDTA chelation therapy in


    individuals

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    with coronary artery disease, the leading cause of death
    for both men


    and

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    women in the United States.

    The 5-year Trial To Assess Chelation Therapy (TACT) will
    involve over


    2,300

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    patients at more than 100 research sites across the
    country.

    This is old news Jan.

    What this means is that chelation will be around until
    maybe 2007, when the trial is complete.

    --
    Orac

    I wonder. It is unusual for trial evidence to trump anecdote
    in alternative medical practice.

    Peter Moran.

  7. In article
    <[email hidden]
    om.au>,

    Peter Moran said:

    "Orac" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:orac-60C127.08275116052004@news4-
    ge1.srv.hcvlny.cv.net...

    Quoted message said:

    In article <20040515203000.09012.00000580@mb-

    m17.aol.com said:

    Inspite of the witch hunts and dirty tactics of
    *organized medicine*

    Facts are, people are using it will success. They know
    all about the


    efforts

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    to stop it, they are aware of the group of debunkers
    who eagerly claim, it doesn't work, rather than it
    remains unproven. They are only concerned with


    RESULTS.

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    It is a real pity that this dirty tactic group could
    care less if it saves


    from

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    sawing open the chest and having bypasses. They are
    the group who want


    no

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    further studies.

    nccam.nih.govpressrelease
    .htm

    The National Center for Complementary and Alternative
    Medicine (NCCAM)


    and

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI),
    components of the


    National

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    Institutes of Health (NIH), have launched the first
    large-scale clinical trial to determine the safety and
    efficacy of EDTA chelation therapy in


    individuals

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    with coronary artery disease, the leading cause of
    death for both men


    and

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    women in the United States.

    The 5-year Trial To Assess Chelation Therapy (TACT)
    will involve over


    2,300

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    patients at more than 100 research sites across the
    country.

    This is old news Jan.

    What this means is that chelation will be around until
    maybe 2007, when the trial is complete.


    I wonder. It is unusual for trial evidence to trump
    anecdote in alternative medical practice.

    Sadly, that's all too true. I suspect that, somewhere,
    somehow, there will be altie practitioners pushing
    chelation therapy until the day I die, even if I live to
    be 100, regardless of whether this or how many future
    clinical trials show it to be ineffective. My reference to
    the year 2007 was simply meant as a minimum period of time
    it will be around, given that that's when the clinical
    trial will end...

    --
    Orac |"A statement of fact cannot be insolent."
    |
    |"If you cannot listen to the answers, why do
    |you inconvenience me with questions?"

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