Physician Group Backs New NIH Chelation Therapy Study for Heart Disease

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Physician Group Backs New NIH Chelation Therapy Study for Heart Disease

LAGUNA HILLS, Calif., Aug. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- The American College of

Advancement in Medicine (ACAM) is pledging its full support and cooperation

to

a $30 million federal study to determine the safety and efficacy of

chelation

therapy in individuals with heart disease.

Since its inception in 1973, ACAM member physicians have promoted

various

alternative approaches to healthcare including chelation therapy. It's

estimated that more than 800,000 patient visits were made for chelation

therapy in the United States in 1997.

" ACAM has long awaited a comprehensive and fair evaluation of a therapy

which we feel has a major role to play along with diet, lifestyle, and

appropriate conventional medical care, " said ACAM President, Hoffman,

MD.

The new five-year clinical trial will involve over 2,300 patients at

more

than 100 research sites across the country. In March, the National

Institutes

of Health's alternative medicine center will begin enrolling participants at

100 different locations around the country.

The therapy is designed to eliminate toxic metals, especially mercury,

from tissues. A manmade amino acid called EDTA intravenously enters the

patient's blood and binds with the toxic metals, which are eliminated

through

the kidneys. Participants will receive 40 intravenous infusions under

methods

endorsed by the American College for Advancement in Medicine.

" We look forward to providing the benefits of our years of experience

with

chelation to the study's leadership, as we have during the study's design

phase, " added Hoffman. " We feel the public will be well-served when the

study

conclusions are available, and look forward to chelation taking its rightful

place among officially acknowledged cardiac treatment strategies. "

ACAM is the largest alternative healthcare medical society in North

America. Nearly 1,000 physicians from 30 nations comprise ACAM's

membership.

ACAM member physicians will be part of a nationwide effort to recruit a

patient study population of both men and women that is typical of people

with

heart disease.

To enroll in the NIH-funded study, patients must be 50 or older, have

had

a heart attack more than 3 months prior to evaluation, don't smoke, haven't

undergone an angioplasty or bypass surgery and have not had chelation

therapy

before.

Prospective participants may obtain more information on the study and

qualifications by contacting the ACAM website at http://www.acam.org .