The Science of Complementary and Alternative Medicine
TACT – National Institute of Health Trial to Assess Chelation Therapy
Written by Marie Cheine
Edited by Hector Fontanet, M.D., FACC
Florida Medical Clinic Department of Cardiology
Now more than ever, complementary and alternative medical treatments are in the public eye. While these practices are not considered part of conventional medicine or approved by the FDA, some of these treatments can offer additional treatment and benefit to patients. In fact, increasingly, the medical community is combining conventional treatment in conjunction with alternative treatments to assist the body in strengthening and healing itself. One of the more popular alternative medical therapies is chelation therapy, which is thought to have the ability to treat heart disease by removing toxic materials and excessive calcium deposits from the circulatory system and providing the body with materials that improve blood flow to the cells. This is accomplished by a series of Intravenous treatments with a cleansing agent called EDTA (ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid) in the blood stream.
Historically, EDTA was first used by the military as an antidote to possible chemical warfare agents because of its ability to grab on to toxic metals such as mercury or lead and carry them out of the body. Chelation therapy with EDTA remains the most effective treatment for heavy metal poisoning and is approved by the FDA for this use. Supporters of this procedure for the treatment of coronary artery disease (clogging of the heart arteries by atherosclerosis or cholesterol and calcium plaques) believe in its ability to open the arteries of the heart, thus improving the ability to exercise and reduce incidence of angina. However, until now, there have been no large-scale scientific studies to prove the efficacy and safety of this procedure. For this reason, the National Institute of Health and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine are conducing a large-scale, well-designed clinical trial that could determine more clearly whether EDTA chelation therapy is indeed an effective and safe alternative for treating coronary artery disease.
The Florida Medical Clinic has been chosen as a clinical site for this important medical trial. Hector Fontanet, M.D., FACC, a cardiologist with the Florida Medical Clinic and principal investigator for this site believes that this procedure, if proven effective, can be of great benefit to many in the Zephyrhills community.
If you or someone you know is over 50 years of age, has had a heart attack and does not smoke, you may be eligible to participate in this important national clinical trial. Participants will be randomized to receive 30 treatments with chelation therapy, high potency vitamins or placebo (dummy infusion). If you have interest in learning more or would like to participate in this trial sponsored by the Federal Government and the National Institute of Health, please feel free to contact the Florida Medical Clinic Department of Cardiology at (813) 788-5575, the Department of Clinical Research at (813) 780-8368 or log into NCCAM.NIH.GOV,FloridaMedicalClinic.Com or JustforHearts.com.
