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Chelation slows kidney failure

April 29, 2008

Chelation therapy is widely used to treat many health problems, and is the subject of an NIH-sponsored clinical trial in heart disease.  A recent clinical trial reported that chelation slows down kidney failure, a growing cause of death and disability that is closely linked to diabetes and high blood pressure.  The study is the third consecutive clinical trial of chelation therapy done at the Lin-Kou Medical Center in Taiwan.   Their previous research, published in th the New England Journal of Medicine showed that chelation slowed kidney failure people with high lead levels. This this study found similar benefits in people with normal lead levels.

In the study, 112 people with early kidney failure were given intravenous (IV) infusions of EDTA or a placebo as needed over 48 months.  At the end of those 4 years, those who got chelation had much less progression of their disease.  The test used to measure this called creatinine, which is used to follow the once inevitable decline to dialysis.  This is the third clinical trial showing positive results in kidney failure.