Chelation and Autism Ranking:

Current Research

We have identified six scientific studies of chelation for autistic people published in peer-reviewed journals, four of which examined the chelating agent DMSA. We have been unable to identify any studies which examined the use of alpha lipoic acid, EDTA or zeolite as chelators.

These trials included more than 180 individuals aged from three to 14 years old and included people with a diagnosis of Asperger syndrome and pervasive developmental disorder - not otherwise specified. 109 of these individuals came from the single study by Adams et al (2009).

The paper by Adams et al (2009) included 2 studies of DMSA, the first included 109 children in an open trial, the second included 65 of those children in a randomised controlled trial.  It stated that DMSA appears to be generally safe, and possibly effective in reducing the symptoms of autism in some children. However it also reported that the DMSA appeared to decrease essential minerals, such as potassium, which is worrying.

• The study by Blaucok-Busch et al (2012) examined DMSA in 44 autistic children, aged between 3 and 9. It reported improvements in a range of behaviours such as verbal and nonverbal communication; taste, smell and touch; and relating to other people.
• The study by Eppright et al (1996) examined DMSA and a range of other interventions in a single 4 year-old boy diagnosed with autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. It stated that these interventions led to a reduction in repetitive behaviours.
• The study by Geier and Geier (2006) examined DMSA in 11 autistic children. It reported “significant improvements in sociability, cognitive awareness, behavior, and clinical symptoms / behaviors of hyperandrogenemia [excessive levels of androgen hormones] were also observed.”
• The study by Lonsdale et al (2002) examined the effect of TTFD on 10 autistic children. It stated that TTFD appears to have a “beneficial clinical effect.”
• The study by Patel and Curtis (2007) examined N-Acetyl-L-cysteine as one component of a multi-component biomedical intervention in 10 primary school children. It reported that “All 10 children showed significant improvement in many areas of social interaction, concentration, writing, language, and behavior”.

Please note: we have not included any other studies of N-Acetyl-L-cysteine in our evaluation of chelation because, in none of those studies, was it used as a chelating agent.

Updated

16 Jun 2022

Last Review

01 Dec 2016

Next Review

01 Apr 2023