LAGUNA HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The American College for Advancement in Medicine, ACAM, today reaffirmed its commitment to the Trial to Assess Chelation Therapy (TACT) currently in progress by the National Institute of Health (NIH). The goal of the study is to test whether chelation therapy and/or high-dose vitamin therapy is effective for the treatment of heart disease. Chelation therapy is a process in which a synthetic or man-made amino acid called EDTA is delivered intravenously.

ACAM has played a strategic role in disseminating information about the trial, linking participants to study-sites, and providing information to its members and the public about this important study. Today, ACAM reaffirmed its commitment to the study in response to opinion statements surfacing through special-interest groups.

“We support open dialogue and critique of integrative medicine therapies in the interest of improved patient care. Ultimately, the TACT trial results will assess chelation therapy’s place in healthcare,” said Jeanne Drisko, MD. “We in the integrative medicine community are very grateful that the NIH Heart Lung and Blood Institute and National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine have agreed to commit resources to study chelation therapy and maintain the resolve to answer the unanswered questions.”

More information about the study is available at the NIH National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine’s Web site at www.nccam.nih.gov/chelation or by calling 305-674-2162.

About ACAM

The American College for Advancement in Medicine (ACAM) is a not-for-profit association dedicated to educating physicians and other health care professionals on the latest findings and emerging procedures in complementary, alternative and integrative (CAIM) medicine. ACAM is the voice of integrative medicine; our goals are to improve physician skills, knowledge and diagnostic procedures as they relate to complementary and alternative medicine; to support integrative medicine research; and to develop awareness of alternative methods of medical treatment. ACAM enables members of the public to connect with physicians who take an integrative approach to patient care and empowers people with information about integrative medicine treatment options.

Celebrating thirty-five years of service, ACAM represents more than 1,250 physicians in 30 countries. ACAM is the largest and oldest organization of its kind in the world dedicated exclusively to serving the needs of the integrative medicine industry. For more information about ACAM, visit http://www.acam.org.