Autism Chelation
In a large number of children with autism, chelation offers a ray of hope for a cure, though the efficacy of the treatment is mired in controversy.
Bernard, et al, have presented a study comparing autism with mercury poisoning. The similarities between the two disorders are quite obvious and apparent even to a casual observer.
Autism Chelation
The controversial treatment for autism - chelation - is the process of binding heavy metal molecules to a 'chelator'(the substance or compound that 'grabs' the molecule) and having it excreted, reducing the amout of the heavy metal in the body.
For efficient chelation, the chelator should have two sulfhydryl groups (or other grops that bind stronly to mercury), placed in opposition to each other in the three-dimensional structure.These two opposed groups hold the mercury tight adn do not allow it to easily bind with another molecule.The following compounds meet this requirement :
* Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)
* 2,3 dimercaptopropane sulfonate (DMPS)
* meso-2,3 dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA)
* Lipoic acid
* Dimercaprol
EDTA is one of the most commonly used chelator. It is used either as Calcium Disodium EDTA (also known as Endrate) and Disodium EDTA (also known as Versinate).
DMPS is known to be a powerful mercury chelator but has never been tested in children and is, therfore, rarely used.
DMSA works as an excellent chelator of heavy metals which includes mercury. It has been tested in children and found to be both safe and effective. However, administration under the guidance of a qualified and experienced physician is strongly recommended since the approved usage of DMSA is for lead chelation but it readily binds to mercury too.
Lipoic acid has the molecular structure of a good chelator in that it has two diameterically opposed sulfhydryl groups that hold the mercury atoms in a 'pincer grip' and, being fat-soluble, can easily cross the cell membranes and the Blood-Brain Barrier.