Detox Programs and Chelation Claims

Urgent first

If you think someone has swallowed a harmful amount of a metal, medicine or product, do not wait. In the US call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222, or 911 if the person collapses, has a seizure or cannot breathe. See poisoning: what to do first. This page is information only and does not replace medical care.

Two different things sold under one word

"Detox" can mean a diet, juice plan, supplement or device marketed to remove toxins. Chelation is a prescription medical treatment in which a drug binds metals so the body can remove them. They are often mentioned together, but they are not the same thing. NCCIH notes that detoxification programs may be advertised commercially, offered at health centers, or be part of naturopathic treatment. [1] Neither the label "detox" nor a practitioner's title tells you whether a specific program is supported; the evidence for the specific program does.

Detox and cleanse programs

What they are. NCCIH describes approaches such as fasting, juicing, restricted diets, supplements or herbs, colon cleansing with enemas, laxatives or colon hydrotherapy, reducing environmental exposures, and sauna use. [1]

The claim. The body is loaded with toxins and a program clears them out.

What was found. NCCIH says there have been only a small number of studies on detoxification programs in people, and that some positive results on weight and fat loss, insulin resistance and blood pressure came from studies of low quality. [1] It cites a 2015 review that found no compelling research to support detox diets for weight management or eliminating toxins from the body. [1] It also notes that these programs have not been studied for long-term effects. [1] Our other pages cover fasting and cleanse programs offered in integrative settings and liver, heavy-metal and parasite cleanse claims.

Risks. NCCIH says the FDA and FTC have taken action against companies selling detox or cleansing products that contained hidden ingredients and posed a significant health risk, or were marketed with false claims that they could treat serious diseases. [1] Colon cleansing may have side effects, some serious, and harmful effects are more likely in people with a history of gastrointestinal disease, colon surgery, kidney disease or heart disease. [1] Laxatives can cause diarrhea, dehydration and malabsorption, and days without food while drinking only water and herbal tea could lead to dangerous electrolyte imbalances. [1] Juices that have not been pasteurized can make people sick, and the illness can be serious in children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems. [1] We give no program, schedule or fasting plan here.

Chelation

What it is. A medicine that binds metals so they can leave the body in urine or stool. It is given under medical supervision when tests show a metal poisoning that needs it.

Legitimate medical use. MedlinePlus says chelation therapy can remove high levels of lead that have built up in a person's body over time. [2] NCCIH notes that the CDC recommends chelation for removing toxic metals in some specific serious cases. [1] Those decisions rest on blood tests and a clinician's judgment, not on a wellness questionnaire.

Heart disease. The TACT trial randomized 1,708 people aged 50 or older who had had a heart attack to 40 infusions of an EDTA-based solution (which also contained vitamins, electrolytes and other ingredients) or placebo. The primary composite outcome occurred in 26% of the chelation group and 30% of the placebo group, with no effect on total mortality. [3] About 15% stopped infusions because of adverse events, and 17% of all participants withdrew consent during the trial. [3] The authors called the benefit modest and not sufficient to support routine use. [3] The result is a research lead, not a treatment recommendation.

Autism. A Cochrane review included one study of oral DMSA and found no clinical trial evidence that chelation is an effective intervention for autism. It listed serious adverse events including hypocalcaemia, renal impairment and reported death, and concluded the risks currently outweigh proven benefits. [4] More in ADHD and autism claims.

Provoked urine tests. Some clinics give a chelating drug and then test the urine. A family-medicine journal article quoting the American College of Medical Toxicology says this has not been validated, has no demonstrated benefit and may be harmful, and that a chelating agent raises the urinary level of heavy metals. [5] It recommends a validated test or referral to a medical toxicologist instead. [5] See provoked urine tests and chelation: medical uses versus alternative claims.

Never in place of serious care

NCCIH advises not to use unproven products or practices to replace or delay medical treatment for cancer, and says no complementary health approach has been shown to prevent or cure cancer. [6] A study of US cancer registry data found that people with curable cancers who chose alternative medicine alone, with no standard treatment, had a higher risk of death than matched patients who had standard treatment. [7] Detox programs are not a substitute for treating cancer, kidney disease, diabetes or any condition that is diagnosed or suspected.

If a clinic offers either one

Ask what condition is being treated, which test showed it, who prescribes and supervises the drug, and what the risks are. Tell your regular doctor, and see red flags in health claims. Biohacking coverage of the same claims is at detox, cleanse and chelation claims. People who are pregnant, children, older adults, and anyone with kidney, liver or heart disease or on several medicines should check with a clinician before any program.