SynthesisBMC cardiovascular disorders2005
EDTA chelation therapy for cardiovascular disease: a systematic review.
Synthesis in BMC cardiovascular disorders, 2005. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 17 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
17 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 73 citations in OpenAlex.
- Chelation Therapy in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease: A Systematic Review.Journal of the American Heart Association · 2022Pooled it
- Chelation therapy for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2020Pooled it
- Dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) mono-esters and amides: synthesis and application in treating metal induced drug resistance in lung cancer.RSC medicinal chemistry · 2026Article
- Protective Effect of PEG-EDTA and Its Zinc(II) Complex on Human Cells.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Article
- Efficacy of nitric oxide donors and EDTA againstBiofilm · 2025Article
- Nucleic acid aptamers protect against lead (Pb(II)) toxicity.New biotechnology · 2024Article
- Evaluating the Utilization of Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid as a Treatment Supplement for Gliomas.Cureus · 2022Review
- Heavy Metal-Induced Cerebral Small Vessel Disease: Insights into Molecular Mechanisms and Possible Reversal Strategies.International journal of molecular sciences · 2020Review
- Chronic Toxic Metal Exposure and Cardiovascular Disease: Mechanisms of Risk and Emerging Role of Chelation Therapy.Current atherosclerosis reports · 2016Review
- Reversal of Vascular Calcification and Aneurysms in a Rat Model Using Dual Targeted Therapy with EDTA- and PGG-Loaded Nanoparticles.Theranostics · 2016Article
- Complementary and Alternative Therapies in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.Neurologic clinics · 2015Review
- The application of EDTA in drug delivery systems: doxorubicin liposomes loaded via NH4EDTA gradient.International journal of nanomedicine · 2014Article
- Chelation: harnessing and enhancing heavy metal detoxification--a review.TheScientificWorldJournal · 2013Review
- Surface-engineered nanoliposomes by chelating ligands for modulating the neurotoxicity associated with β-amyloid aggregates of Alzheimer's disease.Pharmaceutical research · 2012Article
- Fatalities after CAM: an overview.The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners · 2011Article
- Transplantation of a sheet of human corneal endothelial cell in a rabbit model.Molecular vision · 2008Article
- Opinions on chelation therapy in patients undergoing coronary angiography: cross-sectional survey.The Canadian journal of cardiology · 2007Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundNumerous practitioners of both conventional and complementary and alternative medicine throughout North America and Europe claim that chelation therapy with EDTA is an effective means to both control and treat cardiovascular disease. These claims are controversial, and several randomized controlled trials have been completed dealing with this topic. To address this issue we conducted a systematic review to evaluate the best available evidence for the use of EDTA chelation therapy in the treatment of cardiovascular disease.
methodsWe conducted a systematic review of 7 databases from inception to May 2005. Hand searches were conducted in review articles and in any of the trials found. Experts in the field were contacted and registries of clinical trials were searched for unpublished data. To be included in the final systematic review, the studies had to be randomized controlled clinical trials.
resultsA total of seven articles were found assessing EDTA chelation for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. Two of these articles were subgroup analyses of one RCT that looked at different clinical outcomes. Of the remaining five studies, two smaller studies found a beneficial effect whereas the other three exhibited no benefit for cardiovascular disease from the use of EDTA chelation therapy. Adverse effects were rare but those of note included a few cases of hypocalcemia and a single case of increased creatinine in a patient on the EDTA intervention.
conclusionThe best available evidence does not support the therapeutic use of EDTA chelation therapy in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. Although not considered to be a highly invasive or harmful therapy, it is possible that the use of EDTA chelation therapy in lieu of proven therapy may result in causing indirect harm to the patient.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.