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Chelation therapy: the approved use, the two heart trials, and the risks

Chelation removes metals. Two large NIH trials asked whether it also protects the heart; the second did not confirm the first.

Not supported Reviewer pending Updated 2026-11-05

Author: ProperHealth editorial desk, prepared at the request of Arshad Tariq, RPh (Clarkson Pharmacy). Reviewer: pending. Editorial pieces are opinion informed by the sources listed; they are not medical advice.

Chelation is a medical treatment for metal poisoning: a drug binds the metal so the kidneys can remove it. The question this page answers is different — whether EDTA chelation, given by infusion in integrative clinics, helps coronary heart disease. EDTA (edetate disodium) has been used as a complementary therapy for people with coronary heart disease,1 and the ProperHealth coronary-heart-disease topic already carries the short answer.

The two NIH trials

The first Trial to Assess Chelation Therapy found that EDTA chelation reduced the risk of further CVD events by 18 percent in people who had already had a heart attack.3 A second trial, TACT2, was run to confirm it. These findings from TACT2 did not reproduce the results of TACT and do not support the use of chelation to reduce CVD risk in patients with diabetes and a prior heart attack.4 The use of EDTA chelation for coronary heart disease has not been approved by the FDA.2

The risks

The most important serious side effects are hypocalcemia (abnormally low blood calcium levels) and damage to the kidneys.5 Deaths have followed the wrong EDTA salt or the wrong rate of infusion. The FDA has also warned the public not to use chelation products that are sold for home use, such as dietary supplements, nasal sprays, or suppositories.6

What this means for a reader

For metal poisoning, chelation is standard care given by specialists. For heart disease, the best evidence available says it does not work, and it carries real risk. Statins, blood-pressure control and the other measures on the coronary-heart-disease topic have the evidence chelation lacks. If a clinic proposes it, ask your cardiologist first — the topic page says the same.

References

Each passage was checked word for word against the saved copy when this page was built.

  1. 1 NCCIH (NIH), "Chelation for Coronary Heart Disease: What You Need To Know": “EDTA (edetate disodium) has been used as a complementary therapy for people with coronary heart disease.” source
  2. 2 NCCIH (NIH), "Chelation for Coronary Heart Disease: What You Need To Know": “The use of EDTA chelation for coronary heart disease has not been approved by the” source
  3. 3 NCCIH research result, "In a Large Multicenter Trial, Chelation Therapy Did Not Reduce Cardiovascular Disease Events in Patients With Diabetes and a History of Heart Attack": “found that EDTA chelation reduced the risk of further CVD events by 18 percent in people who had already had a heart attack.” source
  4. 4 NCCIH research result, "In a Large Multicenter Trial, Chelation Therapy Did Not Reduce Cardiovascular Disease Events in Patients With Diabetes and a History of Heart Attack": “These findings from TACT2 did not reproduce the results of TACT and do not support the use of chelation to reduce CVD risk in patients with diabetes and a prior heart attack.” source
  5. 5 NCCIH (NIH), "Chelation for Coronary Heart Disease: What You Need To Know": “The most important serious side effects are hypocalcemia (abnormally low blood calcium levels) and damage to the kidneys.” source
  6. 6 NCCIH (NIH), "Chelation for Coronary Heart Disease: What You Need To Know": “warned the public not to use chelation products that are sold for home use, such as dietary supplements, nasal sprays, or suppositories.” source