Unclear
Chelation therapy for cancer
EDTA drips and "heavy metal detox". Claimed cures.
Also called or includes: EDTA chelation, Heavy metal detoxification
Safety: Intravenous EDTA can drop blood calcium dangerously: a woman with no sign of metal poisoning and a 5-year-old boy treated for autism died after it in the United States.
- Verdict
- UnclearThere isn't enough human evidence to say either way.
- How sure
- Rung 1 · UnprovenLab or animal data only, or never directly tested in people.
The rung shows how sure the science is, not how big the effect is. How to read these ratings
Cancers affected
None
What the evidence shows
Chelation drugs are approved for proven heavy metal poisoning, such as lead. Poison Control notes it is also offered for cancer and other diseases without approval or evidence.
What to do
Don't have chelation unless a doctor has diagnosed heavy metal poisoning.
Sources
To take it to your doctor, print this page.
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Related
Every myth and exposure we rated, or follow one cancer step by step: breast cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer and prostate cancer.