For confirmed metal poisoning, chelation reliably removes toxic metals and prevents organ damage — established medicine. For healthy adults seeking longevity, the evidence is genuinely mixed and unsettled: one heart trial found a modest benefit, a larger follow-up found none. Risks are real: mineral depletion, kidney injury, and, with the wrong agent, fatal calcium drops. (Full Review)
| Marker | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Blood lead (BLL) | <2 µg/dL (ideally undetectable) | Confirms burden and tracks removal |
| Blood/urine mercury | Blood <5 µg/L; urine <3 µg/L | Identifies mercury burden and source |
| Blood cadmium | <0.5 µg/L | Smoking and diet marker; linked to mortality |
| Urinary arsenic (speciated) | <15 µg/L inorganic | Detects inorganic arsenic exposure |
| Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) | >90 mL/min/1.73 m² | Safety gate; chelation is nephrotoxic |
| Serum calcium | 9.0–10.0 mg/dL | Detects chelation-induced hypocalcemia |
| Serum magnesium, zinc, copper | Mid-reference, repleted | Detects essential-mineral depletion |
| Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) | Within reference | Overall renal, electrolyte, liver status |
Cadence: Renal function and minerals at baseline, then before each infusion or at least every few infusions during a course; metal levels at baseline, mid-course, end-of-course, then every 6–12 months if treatment continues.