Research Chelation Therapy

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The National Institute of Mental Health, part of the National Institutes of Health, has launched three clinical studies on autism at its research program on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Md. Initial studies will define the characteristics of subtypes of autism and explore possible new treatments.One study will define differences — both biological and behavioral — in autistic children with diverse developmental histories. In another study, NIMH researchers will examine the use of the antibiotic minocycline to measure its usefulness in treating regressive autism. Past research suggests that autism may be linked to changes in the immune response that cause inflammation in the brain.

A third study addresses the widespread but unproven theory that autism may be treated successfully by chelation therapy, which seeks to remove heavy metals from the blood. Chelation is more commonly used to treat lead toxicity, but many families seek the treatment to try to remove mercury and other metals from their autistic children’s blood. This practice is based on the belief that many cases of autism were caused by exposure to thimerosol, a mercury-based preservative previously used in childhood vaccines.

According to the Food and Drug Administration, since 2001, all vaccines recommended for children 6 and younger have contained either no thimerosal or only trace amounts, with the exception of inactivated flu vaccine, which is manufactured in formulations both containing and free of thimerosal.

Autism is a mental disorder that arises in early childhood and is characterized by delays in development of social and communication skills, as well as restricted interests and repetitive behaviors.