Tempe, AZ - Chelation Therapy for children with Autism has been found to be safe and beneficial according to two papers published October 2009 by Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, based in Tempe, Arizona.

The study evaluated treating heavy metal toxicity in children with autism with dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA), a prescription medicine approved by the FDA for treating lead poisoning. DMSA acts by binding to heavy metals, which are then excreted in the urine. In the study, DMSA was given to 65 children with autism (ages 3 -8 years) to determine its effects.

The study found that DMSA dramatically increased excretion of several toxic metals, including a 10-fold increase in excretion of lead. DMSA was well tolerated with no reported side effects on standard safety tests, including no effect on kidney, liver or other organ function. There was little effect on most essential minerals, except for some modest losses of chromium and potassium (less than the typical daily intake).

Of particular interest was DMSA’s dramatic effect on glutathione levels. Glutathione is the body’s primary defense against toxic metals and has been found in other studies to be significantly lower in children with autism. The 3-day treatment with DMSA normalized glutathione levels for at least 1-2 months in nearly all of the children participating in the study.

DMSA therapy also demonstrated promising effects on reducing key symptoms of autism, showing improvements in language, cognition, and sociability. Further studies, including randomized, placebo controlled trials, are indicated to confirm these results.

The principle investigators for this study were Matthew Baral, N.D., Chair of the Department of Pediatric Medicine and Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine (SCNM) and James B. Adams, Ph.D., Adjunct Professor in the Division of Clinical Sciences at SCNM.

“Toxic metals are a common problem in autism,” said Dr. Baral. “This data answers the question that many physicians have, ‘whether chelation is safe and effective?’, and clearly it’s both.”

The safety and efficacy of chelation therapy for children with autism was reported in two papers, “Safety and Efficacy of Oral DMSA Therapy for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders:  Part A – Medical Results”, and its companion paper, “Part B – Behavioral Results”.

“This study shows that DMSA therapy is safe and effective and should be considered, and further investigated, as a possible treatment for children with autism who have a significant body burden of toxic metals,” stated Prof. James Adams.

If you are an accredited member of the media and would like further information, or to request an interview, please contact: Salina Bazurto, Southwest College Marketing and Public Relations Manager, at 480-858-9100 ext. 222.