Autism treatment: Can chelation therapy help?

Q: My son has autism. An acquaintance told me that his son's autism was cured with chelation therapy. Is this possible?

No name given / Colorado

There's no scientific evidence that chelation therapy is an effective autism treatment.

Over the years, some doctors and parents have recommended chelation therapy as a potential autism treatment. Proponents believe that autism is caused by mercury exposure, such as from childhood vaccines. Chelation therapy supposedly removes mercury from the body, which cures autism — but extensive studies have revealed no evidence of a link between mercury exposure and autism. In addition, chelation therapy can be associated with serious side effects, including potentially fatal liver and kidney damage.

There's no cure for autism. As a result, unproven alternative therapies are often suggested to parents who — frustrated by the lack of effective medical treatment for autism — are desperate to find something that will help their children. However, in clinical studies, these alternative therapies are usually found to be ineffective and sometimes harmful.

Consult your son's doctor if you're considering an alternative autism treatment. He or she can help you identify the treatments that are most likely to be effective for your son, as well as local resources that may provide additional support.