U.S. researchers call off controversial autism study

[Guest guest]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-09-17-autism-study_N.htm

U.S. researchers call off controversial autism study

CHICAGO (AP) — A U.S. government agency has dropped plans for a study

of a controversial treatment for autism that critics had called an

unethical experiment on children.

The National Institute of Mental Health said in a statement Wednesday

that the study of the treatment — called chelation — has been

abandoned. The agency decided the money would be better used testing

other potential therapies for autism and related disorders, the

statement said.

The study had been on hold because of safety concerns after another

study published last year linked a drug used in the treatment to

lasting brain problems in rats.

Chelation removes heavy metals from the body and is used to treat lead

poisoning. Its use as an autism treatment is based on the fringe

theory that mercury in vaccines triggers autism — a theory never

proved and rejected by mainstream science. Mercury hasn't been in

childhood vaccines since 2001, except for certain flu shots.

But many parents of autistic children are believers in the treatment,

and NIMH agreed to test it.

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The researchers had proposed recruiting 120 autistic children ages 4

to 10 and giving half a chelation drug and the other half a dummy

pill. The 12-week test would measure before-and-after blood mercury

levels and autism symptoms.

The study outline said that failing to find a difference between the

two groups would counteract " anecdotal reports and widespread belief "

that chelation works.

Autism is a spectrum of disorders that hamper a person's ability to

communicate and interact with others. Most doctors believe there is no

cure.

In canceling the study, the agency noted it would take another year to

review the study and three years to do it. In the meantime, the agency

said, it was likely that other research would " provide deeper

understanding of the causes of autism and more refined avenues for

developing treatments. "

Several scientists praised the decision, including the lead author of

the rat study, which found lingering problems in animals that did not

have elevated lead levels.

" I think they're making the right decision not to go forward with the

study, " said Barbara Strupp, a professor of psychology and nutritional

sciences at Cornell University.

" Our data raise concerns about administering (the chelation compound)

to children who do not have elevated levels of heavy metals, " Strupp

said.

Dr. Offit, chief of infectious diseases at the Children's

Hospital of Philadelphia, agreed with the decision to cancel.

" Suppose that a child suffers a severe side effect from chelation, "

said Offit, author of " Autism's False Prophets, " a new book on autism

research. " Without any evidence it's helpful, I think it's unethical. "

The chelation drug proposed for the study, DMSA, can cause side

effects including rashes and low white blood cell count.

" This was a wise and careful decision, " said Ellen Silbergeld of s

Hopkins University's Bloomberg School of Public Health, who had been

invited to comment on the study during an earlier review, in an

e-mail.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This

material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[Guest guest]

,

I found this to be very interesting in the article you posted.......

Dr. Offit, chief of infectious diseases at the Children's

Hospital of Philadelphia, agreed with the decision to cancel.

" Suppose that a child suffers a severe side effect from chelation, "

said Offit, author of " Autism's False Prophets, " a new book on autism

research. " Without any evidence it's helpful, I think it's

unethical. "

Isn't that the same thing as injecting vaccines in our children? If

there is NO proof that the vaccines give immunity to diseases then

isn't his quote of " Without any evidence it's helpful, I think it's

unethical " apply to vaccines??????

~Beth

>

> http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-09-17-autism-study_N.htm

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> U.S. researchers call off controversial autism study

>

[Guest guest]

Offit is such a snake. It's okay to put toxins in but not okay to take them out.

All his phony concern about severe side effects--he wouldn't know one if it

happened to him.

Winnie

Re: U.S. researchers call off controversial autism study

Vaccinations

> ,

>

> I found this to be very interesting in the article you posted.......

>

> Dr. Offit, chief of infectious diseases at the Children's

> Hospital of Philadelphia, agreed with the decision to cancel.

>

> " Suppose that a child suffers a severe side effect from chelation, "

> said Offit, author of " Autism's False Prophets, " a new book on autism

> research. " Without any evidence it's helpful, I think it's

> unethical. "

>

> Isn't that the same thing as injecting vaccines in our children?

> If

> there is NO proof that the vaccines give immunity to diseases

> then

> isn't his quote of " Without any evidence it's helpful, I think

> it's

> unethical " apply to vaccines??????

>

> ~Beth

>

>

>

>

> >

> > http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-09-17-autism-study_N.htm

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> > U.S. researchers call off controversial autism study

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