Re: chelation study canned in the US

[Guest guest]

Doesn't actually give core reasoning for not doing the study....

>

> surprise surprise

>

>

http://www.boston.com/news/health/articles/2008/09/17/us_researcher_ca

> ll_off_controversial_autism_study/

>

>

> US researchers call off controversial autism study

>

> September 17, 2008 A 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 (kee-LAY'-shun) 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.

>

> 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.

>

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

> to review of 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. "

>

> " 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. " It

is

> to be hoped that the NIMH will continue its commitment to research

> into preventable risks for autism spectrum disorders. "

>