Chelation therapy good for lead reduction / MI risk not so much

FWIW from the med literature

[size=34]Edetate Disodium–Based Chelation for Patients With a Previous Myocardial Infarction and DiabetesTACT2 Randomized Clinical Trial
Gervasio A. Lamas, MD¹; Kevin J. Anstrom, PhD²; Ana Navas-Acien, MD, PhD³; et alRobin Boineau, MD, MA⁴; Hayley Nemeth, MS⁵; Zhen Huang, MS⁵; Jun Wen, MS⁵; Yves Rosenberg, MD, MPH⁶; Mario Stylianou, PhD⁶; Teresa L. Z. Jones, MD⁷; Bonnie R. Joubert, PhD, MPH⁸; Qilu Yu, PhD⁴; Regina M. Santella, PhD³; Ana C. Mon, MPH¹; Francisco Ujueta, MD, MS¹; Esteban Escolar, MD¹; David M. Nathan, MD⁹; Vivian A. Fonseca, MD¹⁰; Y. Wady Aude, MD, MPH¹¹; Jonathan K. Ehrman, PhD¹²; Thomas Elliott, MBBS¹³; Rakesh Prashad, MD¹⁴; Eldrin F. Lewis, MD, MPH¹⁵; Renato D. Lopes, MD, MHS, PhD⁵; Michael E. Farkouh, MD, MSc¹⁶; Anne-Marie Elliott, BA⁵; Jonathan D. Newman, MD, MPH¹⁷; Daniel B. Mark, MD, MPH⁵; for the TACT2 Investigators
Author Affiliations Article Information
JAMA. Published online August 14, 2024. doi:10.1001/jama.2024.11463[/size]


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Key Points
Question  Does therapy with edetate disodium (EDTA)–based chelation reduce major adverse cardiovascular events compared with placebo infusions among patients with diabetes and prior myocardial infarction (MI)?
Findings  EDTA-based chelation did not reduce major adverse cardiovascular events compared with placebo infusion, with a hazard ratio of 0.93 (95% CI, 0.76-1.16; P = .53). Chelation infusions did reduce the median blood lead levels from 9.0 μg/L at baseline to 3.5 μg/L at infusion 40 (P < .001).
Meaning  Among patients with diabetes and prior MI, EDTA-based chelation decreased median blood lead levels by 61% from baseline but did not reduce major adverse cardiovascular events.

Abstract
Importance  In 2013, the Trial to Assess Chelation Therapy (TACT) reported that edetate disodium (EDTA)–based chelation significantly reduced cardiovascular disease (CVD) events by 18% in 1708 patients with a prior myocardial infarction (MI).
Objective  To replicate the finding of TACT in individuals with diabetes and previous MI.
Design, Setting, and Participants  A 2 × 2 factorial, double-masked, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial at 88 sites in the US and Canada, involving participants who were 50 years or older, had diabetes, and had experienced an MI at least 6 weeks before recruitment compared the effect of EDTA-based chelation vs placebo infusions on CVD events and compared the effect of high doses of oral multivitamins and minerals with oral placebo. This article reports on the chelation vs placebo infusion comparisons.
Interventions  Eligible participants were randomly assigned to 40 weekly infusions of an EDTA-based chelation solution or matching placebo and to twice daily oral, high-dose multivitamin and mineral supplements or matching placebo for 60 months. This article addresses the chelation study.
Main Outcomes and Measures  The primary end point was the composite of all-cause mortality, MI, stroke, coronary revascularization, or hospitalization for unstable angina. Median follow-up was 48 months. Primary comparisons were made from patients who received at least 1 assigned infusion.
Results  Of the 959 participants (median age, 67 years [IQR, 60-72 years]; 27% females; 78% White, 10% Black, and 20% Hispanic), 483 received at least 1 chelation infusion and 476 at least 1 placebo infusion. A primary end point event occurred in 172 participants (35.6%) in the chelation group and in 170 (35.7%) in the placebo group (adjusted hazard ratio

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[size], 0.93; 95% CI, 0.76-1.16; P = .53). The 5-year primary event cumulative incidence rates were 45.8% for the chelation group and 46.5% for the placebo group. CV death, MI, or stroke events occurred in 89 participants (18.4%) in the chelation group and in 94 (19.7%) in the placebo group (adjusted HR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.66-1.19). Death from any cause occurred in 84 participants (17.4%) in the chelation group and in 84 (17.6%) in the placebo group (adjusted HR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.71-1.30). Chelation reduced median blood lead levels from 9.03 μg/L at baseline to 3.46 μg/L at infusion 40 (P < .001). Corresponding levels in the placebo group were 9.3 μg/L and 8.7 μg/L, respectively.
Conclusions and Relevance  Despite effectively reducing blood lead levels, EDTA chelation was not effective in reducing cardiovascular events in stable patients with coronary artery disease who have diabetes and a history of MI.[/size]

I used to work in a lab where we did hemophilia research, and we used EDTA to stop blood clotting reactions.  It basically forms a "cage" around atoms like calcium, lead, and iron.  It's also commonly used as a food preservative.

Specialist I talked to said chelation wasn't recommended if your reading is under 50. Mine was 33.6. It took a year to get it down to 12.2 using a good quality mask with P-100 filters and limited practice indoors (at our poorly ventilated range). My tremors have reduced and scores are back up.

That showed that chelation reduced the amount of lead in the patients. It didn't protect them from cardiovascular events, but it also did not increase the cardiovascular events. This was a relatively high risk group who had a prior MI (heart attack).

impalanut wrote:That showed that chelation reduced the amount of lead in the patients. It didn't protect them from cardiovascular events, but it also did not increase the cardiovascular events. This was a relatively high risk group who had a prior MI (heart attack).

Yes this is why I passed the study on here.  Chelation could be a good approach to rapidly reduce lead levels for shooters (or others).

There are a variety of other non cardiac risks to chelation therapy, so it shouldn't be take lightly and should  be done by a physician experienced in this type of treatment.

There is no good chelation therapy to reduce lead levels. Here's what you can do to bring down lead levels once high:

1. Stop shooting at indoor ranges immediately.
2. Use lead soap or wipes on your hands whenever you are done shooting (outdoors).
3. Use lead wipes and soap on your hands whenever you are done cleaning your gun
4. Do not eat, drink, or smoke at your gun work bench.'
5. Use designated clothing and shoes to shoot in. Keep them in the garage after you shoot and wash them separately from the rest of your clothing.

Don’t empty dry tumbled brass in the house and wipe brass down in bulk before handling to reload. It’s covered with lead dust. Also wear thin medical gloves to reload.