Our exposure to heavy metal pollutants comes from different sources. For some, it might be their polluted water source or atmospheric contamination derived from industrial operations. We have to keep in mind that even while heavy metals are naturally occurring , the current environmental contamination has increased our chances of exposure. When exposed, toxicity not only depends on the chemical species and dose, but also on our age, gender and even genetics!
Most of the heavy metals are actually essential nutrients required for our biological function; it is excessive exposure what triggers their cellular and tissue damaging properties. This results on cell and DNA damage, ultimately leading to apoptosis (cell death) or even carcinogenesis.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has already classified the top five elements that are most known and/or probable to cause cancer; they are arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead and mercury. If the use on agricultural practices, industrial processes, technological and even domestic applications are not possible to avoid, we must find a way to detoxify our bodies from these harmful metals.
This is why we offer you chelation therapies, a metal detoxification treatment known for decades. The principle behind chelation therapy is the use of chelating substances (or sequestering agents) that chemically bond with toxins, get carried, and then excreted either through urine or feces.
One of the most exciting applications is the use of chelators as anti-tumor agents. Since a tumor usually requires its own microenvironment to grow, it will proliferate when it has not only the required conditions, but the raw materials needed. Surprisingly, iron, which is an essential nutrient , also contributes to tumor initiation and growth. Therefore, an iron sequestrator (chelator) can cause oxidative stress in the tumor, perturbing and reshaping its ideal environment for growth.
When treating cancer, is important to avoid therapies that are known to develop resistance and that require higher doses which results in higher side effects. The best approach is to target cancer cell metabolism, which is different from a normal cell and will not affect the latter. An efficient way to address this issue is through the use of chelators that assist on selective anti-proliferative cancer activity.
Our chelation therapies are mostly given via intravenous and oral routes. Chelators can be natural or synthetic, depending on the strived metal affinity. Since there are different chelating agents that can be used, we look to minimize side effects by regulating the dose given depending on medical condition, degree of intoxication and kidney function.
Chelation Therapy FAQ
- What is the principle behind chelation therapy?
- What is chelation therapy?
- What chelating agents are used?
- How is the chelation therapy given?
- What dose will be used?
- Could you provide studies that prove chelation therapy efficiency?
The use of chelating substances that chemically bond with toxins, get carried, and then excreted either through urine or feces.
A therapy that uses ligating substances to chemically bond with toxic heavy metals, then get carried, and then excreted either through urine or feces. An artificial amino acid is injected to work at molecular levels and effectively removes free radicals, long linked to cancer development.
Agents used vary accordingly to the disease being treated.
If, for example, one requires to detoxify from arsenic, BAL would be used. When iron detoxification is needed, Deferasirox has not only shown good results, but has a good side effect profile. Still, the most common agent is EDTA since it can form a stable bond with several different metals.
It can be administered via IV, rectally and orally. EDTA is most commonly given via IV routes, Deferasirox on the other hand, is administered orally.
Dose applied is determined by body weight, the amount of traced metals and renal function. The latter because it has been found that with renal failure, the larger metal excretion increases the risk of nephrotoxicity (toxicity in the kidneys).
Of course! Chelation therapies have been long recognized as an optimum treatment for metal intoxications. You can have full access to a study published by the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health here.
There are several studies that have focused their attention on a specific metal detoxification, such as iron, zinc, lead and arsenic.