By Dr. Matsen/Irene Hayton
Pectin is a complex carbohydrate found in and between the cell walls of fruits and certain vegetables; it binds cells together helping them remain firm. ‘Hard’ fruits such as apples, plums, oranges, and other citrus fruits are rich in pectin, whereas ‘soft’ fruits like cherries, strawberries, and raspberries contain very little of it. This soluble fibre binds to water in the intestine and forms a gel like substance, slowing down the movement of food through the digestive tract thereby allowing for proper absorption of nutrients and helping to stabilize blood sugar levels. Because of its excellent gel-forming properties, pectin is used commercially as the setting agent in the preparation of jams, jellies, and preserves.
The health benefits of pectin are mostly limited to the intestinal tract because the pectin molecules are long, complex chains of sugar molecules that are too large to be absorbed into the bloodstream in sufficient quantities. Modified citrus pectin (MCP) is a product in which pectin derived from citrus peels has been altered to create a smaller, more bioavailable structure, meaning that it can be more easily absorbed.
MCP vs. Cancer
Recent research suggests that MCP may help combat cancer. Cancer cells have the ability to break away from malignant tumours and travel via the bloodstream to other parts of the body where they attach to healthy tissues, and bind or clump together to form new tumours. This process in which cancer spreads to other areas of the body is called metastasis and is one of the most life-threatening aspects of this disease.
Cancer cells have special molecules, called galectin-3, on their surfaces that allow the cells to communicate with and bind to one another and to the surface of healthy cells. Galectin-3 also nourishes cancerous cells by stimulating the growth of new blood vessels to feed the tumour; this process is known as angiogenesis. MCP molecules bind to galectin-3 on cancer cells thereby blocking their aggregation and adhesion to the healthy tissue and preventing the cancer from metastasizing.
Most of the research on MCP and its anti-cancer properties is based on animal and in vitro studies of prostate, breast, and skin cancers; only a couple of small, uncontrolled studies have involved men with prostate cancer. Uncontrolled studies are those in which a control group is not used—the control group consists of subjects who do not take the substance being tested, in this case MCP. While there needs to be more randomized controlled human studies done using larger groups of people, the preliminary findings show a lot of promise that MCP may help to inhibit the growth and spread of cancer and possibly prevent angiogenesis.
MCP as a Metal Chelator
Preliminary research on the role of MCP as a chelator of toxic heavy metals has also been done. Chelators are substances which bind to heavy metals, allowing them to be removed from the body via the urine. Four uncontrolled pilot trials found that MCP increases the excretion of heavy metals. Although these studies did not use a control group, were small in size, using only a few subjects, and three of these studies were conducted by the same research team, the results show promise that MCP may be a safe and effective way of removing toxic heavy metals from the body. Unlike other chelators, MCP does not bind to essential minerals and disrupt their levels in the body, nor does it appear to have any adverse side effects. Hopefully further research in this area will verify these findings.
MCP is safe to use and is well-tolerated by most people. Side effects are rare but may include loose stools, and those with allergies to citrus may experience stomach discomfort.
