Jennifer Matthews: Richard Chartoff was diagnosed with heart disease one year ago.
Richard Chartoff: I was feeling indigestion.
Jennifer Matthews: It was actually chest pain called angina, and recovery was not easy.
Richard Chartoff: The worst part was getting over the massive pain.
Jennifer Matthews: He's nearly back to normal, and it may have something to do with this Chelation therapy.
Dr. Harmony Reynolds: Chelation therapy is treatment with intravenous infusions that act like a sponge and take metals out of the body including iron and lead, calcium, other things.
Jennifer Matthews: Richard is part of a nationwide study to see if the therapy can clear blocked arteries. It's normally used to treat toxicity. It's also been used to treat coronary artery disease but without substantial medical evidence.
Dr. Harmony Reynolds: There are several theories on why Chelation therapy may work, and some of them are plausible.
Jennifer Matthews: Not all doctors agree.
Dr. John Barnard: It's my personal opinion that it probably doesn't work.
Jennifer Matthews: Cardiologist John Barnard calls it a worthless therapy that is expensive and time-consuming. He says the theory that Chelation could treat calcified arteries doesn't make sense.
Dr. John Barnard: How do you get calcium out of the arteries without getting it out of the bones as well?
Jennifer Matthews: The jury is out, but both doctors anxiously await the verdict.
Dr. Harmony Reynolds: I got into this study because a patient asked me whether or not he should take Chelation therapy, and I didn't know.
Jennifer Matthews: They'll know when the study is done in 2008. This is Jennifer Matthews reporting.
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