The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently warned several companies that promoting their over-the-counter chelation products as treatments for autism, cardiovascular disease, and other serious health problems is dangerous and illegal.

Chelation products originated in response to the use of poison gas in World War I. Chelation therapy has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of metal poisoning, such as arsenic poisoning, mercury poisoning, lead poisoning, and copper toxicity, and may be administered orally, intravenously or intramuscularly. The main chelation agents are Dimercaprol, Dimercaptosuccinic acid, Dimercapto-propane sulfonate, Penicillamine, Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (calcium disodium versante), and Deferoxamine.

With disregard to the FDA’s approval of chelation products as treatment for metal poisoning, many alternative medical companies have begun marketing the drugs as treatment for many other ailments. On October 14, 2010, the FDA sent a warning letter to eight companies; World Health Products, LLC, Hormonal Health, LLC, Evenbetternow, LLC, Maxam Laboratories, Cardio Renew, Inc., Artery Health Institute, LLC, Longevity Plus, and Dr. Rhonda Henry, demanding that they cease all marketing of chelation products. The FDA says the companies have not proven their products are safe and effective in treating many of the health issues they claim to treat, such as autism spectrum disorder, cardiovascular disease, macular degeneration, Parkinson’s disease or any other serious illness. Some of the companies also claim their products can detect the presence of heavy metals in the body in an attempt to justify the need for chelation therapy. "Although some of these products are marketed as dietary supplements, they are in fact unapproved drugs because they claim to treat, mitigate, prevent, or diagnose disease," said Michael Levy, director of the FDA's Division of New Drugs and Labeling Compliance.