LAGUNA
HILLS, California, Aug. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- The American College of
Advancement in Medicine (ACAM) is pledging its full support and
cooperation to a $30 million federal study to determine the safety and
efficacy of chelation therapy in individuals with heart disease.
Since its inception
in 1973, ACAM member physicians have promoted various alternative
approaches to healthcare including chelation therapy. It's estimated
that more than 800,000 patient visits were made for chelation therapy
in the United States in 1997.
"ACAM has long awaited a comprehensive and
fair evaluation of a therapy which we feel has a major role to play
along with diet, lifestyle, and appropriate conventional medical care,"
said ACAM President, Ronald Hoffman, MD.
The new five-year clinical trial will involve over 2,300 patients at
more than 100 research sites across the country. In March, the National
Institutes of Health's alternative medicine center will begin enrolling
participants at 100 different locations around the country.
The therapy is designed to
eliminate toxic metals, especially mercury, from tissues. A manmade
amino acid called EDTA intravenously enters the patient's blood and
binds with the toxic metals, which are eliminated through the kidneys.
Participants will receive 40 intravenous infusions under methods
endorsed by the American College for Advancement in Medicine.
"We look forward to providing the benefits of our years of experience
with chelation to the study's leadership, as we have during the study's
design phase," added Hoffman. "We feel the public will be well-served
when the study conclusions are available, and look forward to chelation
taking its rightful place among officially acknowledged cardiac
treatment strategies."
ACAM is the largest alternative healthcare medical society in North
America. Nearly 1,000 physicians from 30 nations comprise ACAM's
membership. ACAM member physicians will be part of a nationwide effort
to recruit a patient study population of both men and women that is
typical of people with heart disease.
To enroll in the NIH-funded study, patients must be 50 or older, have
had a heart attack more than 3 months prior to evaluation, don't smoke,
haven't undergone an angioplasty or bypass surgery and have not had
chelation therapy before.
Prospective participants may obtain more information on the study and qualifications by contacting the ACAM website at http: http://www.acam.org.
(For more information and interviews, contact ACAM Director of Communications, Jack Gallagher at (800)532-3688 ext. 18 or media@acam.org) |