| Citrus Pectin (Vitamin) |
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MCP - Modified Citrus Pectin
The health-enhancing properties of citrus fruits have been known for
centuries. In 1593, Great Britain’s Sir Richard Hawkins suggested that
something in lemons and oranges prevented the scurvy that bedeviled
sailors on long voyages. That medicinal ingredient was identified as
vitamin C in the 1920s, and since then we have learned that citrus
fruits contain many other vitamins, minerals, and heath-enhancing
substances. One of these is the pectin found in the fruit’s rinds. A
soluble fiber, pectin is known to help counteract diarrhea and reduce
cholesterol levels.1 But its effects are limited to the intestinal tract, as it
is not readily absorbed into the bloodstream.
Pectin appears to produce hypocholesterolemic actions and may be
anti-atherogenic to some individuals. It is used in some multi-ingredient
preparations for use in connection with constipation and diarrhea.
Claims that it is an effective anti-obesity agent are unsubstantiated.
There are studies suggesting that pectin might have some anticancer
effects.
Pectin is used in the food industry as a thickening agent and in the
production of jams and jellies. While ordinary citrus pectin is
beneficial in human nutrition and food industries, a new form called
modified citrus pectin (MCP) has been shown to prevent spontaneous
prostate cancer metastasis by inhibiting the cancer cells from adhering
to other cells in the body.
Animal studies and a couple of uncontrolled human studies have found
that MCP may inhibit the spread of prostate cancer and melanoma to
other organs; however, there have been no controlled clinical studies
done to prove this effect in humans.
The health-enhancing properties of citrus fruits have been known for
centuries. In 1593, Great Britain’s Sir Richard Hawkins suggested that
something in lemons and oranges prevented the scurvy that bedeviled
sailors on long voyages. That medicinal ingredient was identified as
vitamin C in the 1920s, and since then we have learned that citrus
fruits contain many other vitamins, minerals, and heath-enhancing
substances. One of these is the pectin found in the fruit’s rinds. A
soluble fiber, pectin is known to help counteract diarrhea and reduce
cholesterol levels.1 But its effects are limited to the intestinal tract, as it
is not readily absorbed into the bloodstream.
Pectin appears to produce hypocholesterolemic actions and may be
anti-atherogenic to some individuals. It is used in some multi-ingredient
preparations for use in connection with constipation and diarrhea.
Claims that it is an effective anti-obesity agent are unsubstantiated.
There are studies suggesting that pectin might have some anticancer
effects.
Pectin is used in the food industry as a thickening agent and in the
production of jams and jellies. While ordinary citrus pectin is
beneficial in human nutrition and food industries, a new form called
modified citrus pectin (MCP) has been shown to prevent spontaneous
prostate cancer metastasis by inhibiting the cancer cells from adhering
to other cells in the body.
Animal studies and a couple of uncontrolled human studies have found
that MCP may inhibit the spread of prostate cancer and melanoma to
other organs; however, there have been no controlled clinical studies
done to prove this effect in humans.
Modified citrus pectin binds to the "sticky hands" called galectins, found in large numbers on the surface of a cancer cell.
Cancer cells use galectins to attach themselves to blood vessels (their source of nutrients) and to each other. The more
galectins a cancer cell has, the more aggressive it is. MCP has been shown to reduce tumor growth, angiogenesis, and
metastasis, according to a Wayne State University study published in the Journal of National Cancer Institute (December 2002).
Specifically, this study found that MCP affected tumors with galactin-3, a protein involved in angiogenesis (the formation of new
blood vessels, needed for cancer growth).
There are no typical doses of pectin supplements. Doses of 10 to 15 grams daily have been used in studies showing
cholesterol-lowering effects in hypercholesterolemic individuals. Pectin supplements should be used with plenty of fluid.
Modified citrus pectin is generally considered safe by the FDA. Side effects rarely occur. However, people who are allergic or
sensitive to MCP may experience stomach discomfort after taking it. There have been a few case reports of people with
exposure to powdered pectin developing asthma when pectin was inhaled during use.
Cancer cells use galectins to attach themselves to blood vessels (their source of nutrients) and to each other. The more
galectins a cancer cell has, the more aggressive it is. MCP has been shown to reduce tumor growth, angiogenesis, and
metastasis, according to a Wayne State University study published in the Journal of National Cancer Institute (December 2002).
Specifically, this study found that MCP affected tumors with galactin-3, a protein involved in angiogenesis (the formation of new
blood vessels, needed for cancer growth).
There are no typical doses of pectin supplements. Doses of 10 to 15 grams daily have been used in studies showing
cholesterol-lowering effects in hypercholesterolemic individuals. Pectin supplements should be used with plenty of fluid.
Modified citrus pectin is generally considered safe by the FDA. Side effects rarely occur. However, people who are allergic or
sensitive to MCP may experience stomach discomfort after taking it. There have been a few case reports of people with
exposure to powdered pectin developing asthma when pectin was inhaled during use.