The medicinal uses of gelatin, posted the first of this month, kinda floored me. I just somehow didn’t expect anything beyond the usual “it’s good for skin and nails.” Pectin, which in the context of food acts much like gelatin, is commonly used to thicken much more than jams and jellies. However, its medicinal uses just blow me away.
While gelatin is extracted from animal bones and tissue, pectin is extracted from fruits. Pectin is found in almost all fruits; apples and citrus fruits—especially oranges, lemons, and grapefruit—contain the most pectin. Crabapples are an excellent source. Quince, plums, and gooseberries are also good. Cherries, grapes, and strawberries contain substantially less pectin. If you’re attempting to DIY some pectin powder, dried apple pulp contains about 15-20% pectin, while dried citrus peel has about 30-35% pectin.[1]
PREPARATIONS
Capsules. Available online and in health food stores.
Powder. Now, you don’t want to get the pectin in the cute little boxes like Sure-Jell or Certo that are used for jams. Yes, they are pectin, but only about 35% by volume. For medicinal purposes, you want full-strength. Amazon is one source; I’ve found better pricing at bulkfoods.com.
MODERN USAGE
· Cardiovascular
o Atherosclerosis[2]
o Reduce cholesterol[3] [4] [5]
§ 15 grams per day over a period of 4 weeks reduced cholesterol 3-7%[6]
· Endocrine
o Diabetes, type-2[7]
o Reduce blood sugars, 20 g per day[8] [9]
· Gastrointestinal
o Diarrhea, 4 g/kg, dosage frequency not provided[10]
o Obesity, 5-10 g mixed with orange juice[11] [12]
· Immunological
o Food and respiratory allergies[13]
· Neurological
o Alzheimers[14]
· Other
o Anti-cancer, particularly lung and colorectal cancer[15]
§ Breast cancer[16]
§ Liver cancer[19]
o Binds and removes heavy metals like lead and mercury, modified citrus pectin (MCP)[20] [21] [22]
§ Children were administered 5 g pectin in 3 daily doses for a total of 15 g per day, for 2-4 weeks[23]
o Prevents the body from absorbing and removes radioactive cesium and strontium that has already been absorbed[24] [25] (let that sink in for a moment)
Although there’s no standard dose for pectin, research shows
that doses ranging from 10-60 grams per day are safe and effective. Also, it appears that apple pectin is better for detoxing radioactive elements, while citrus pectin is better for clearing heavy metals.
Contraindications. Pectin may reduce the efficacy of tetracycline and other –cycline antibiotics, digoxin, and lovastatin. To circumvent this issue, take these medications two hours before or four hours after taking pectin.
Caution. If you aren’t used to consuming a lot of fiber, then slowly bring pectin into your diet. If you consume too much right off the bat, you may experience digestive issues like stomach cramps, gassiness, loose stools and diarrhea.
Links to related posts:
[1] C Lara-Espinoza, et al., Pectin and Pectin-Based Composite Materials: Beyond Food Texture, Molecules, 18 April 2018, Vol 23 No 4, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6017442/#B67-molecules-23-00942 (accessed 5 March 2022).
[2] F Blanco-Pérez, et al., The Dietary Fiber Pectin: Health Benefits and Potential for the Treatment of Allergies by Modulation of Gut Microbiota, Current Allergy and Asthma Reports, 10 September 2021, Vol 21 No 10, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8433104/ (accessed 4 March 2022).
[3] F Blanco-Pérez, et al., The Dietary Fiber Pectin: Health Benefits and Potential for the Treatment of Allergies by Modulation of Gut Microbiota, Current Allergy and Asthma Reports, 10 September 2021, Vol 21 No 10, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8433104/ (accessed 4 March 2022).
[4] LF Tinker, et al., Prune fiber or pectin compared with cellulose lowers plasma and liver lipids in rats with diet-induced hyperlipidemia, Journal of Nutrition, January 1994, Vol 124 No 1, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8283292/ (accessed 5 March 2022).
[5] JJ Cerda, et al., The effects of grapefruit pectin on patients at risk for coronary heart disease without altering diet or lifestyle, Clinical Cardiology, September 1988, Vol 11 No 9, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3229016/ (accessed 5 March 2022).
[6] F Blanco-Pérez, et al., The Dietary Fiber Pectin: Health Benefits and Potential for the Treatment of Allergies by Modulation of Gut Microbiota, Current Allergy and Asthma Reports, 10 September 2021, Vol 21 No 10, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8433104/ (accessed 4 March 2022).
[7] F Blanco-Pérez, et al., The Dietary Fiber Pectin: Health Benefits and Potential for the Treatment of Allergies by Modulation of Gut Microbiota, Current Allergy and Asthma Reports, 10 September 2021, Vol 21 No 10, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8433104/ (accessed 4 March 2022).
[8] F Blanco-Pérez, et al., The Dietary Fiber Pectin: Health Benefits and Potential for the Treatment of Allergies by Modulation of Gut Microbiota, Current Allergy and Asthma Reports, 10 September 2021, Vol 21 No 10, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8433104/ (accessed 4 March 2022).
[9] SE Schwartz, et al., Sustained pectin ingestion: effect on gastric emptying and glucose tolerance in non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, December 1988, Vol 48 No 6, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2849298/ (accessed 5 March 2022).
[10] GH Rabbani, et al., Clinical studies in persistent diarrhea: dietary management with green banana or pectin in Bangladeshi children, Gastroenterology, September 2001, Vol 121 No 3, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11522739/ (accessed 5 March 2022).
[11] CM Tiwary, et al., Effect of pectin on satiety in healthy US Army adults, Journal of the American College of Nutrition, October 1997, Vol 16 No 5, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9322190/ (accessed 5 March 2022).
[12] AJ Wanders, Pectin is not pectin: a randomized trial on the effect of different physicochemical properties of dietary fiber on appetite and energy intake, Physiology and Behavior, 10 April 2014, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24534170/ (accessed 5 March 2022).
[13] F Blanco-Pérez, et al., The Dietary Fiber Pectin: Health Benefits and Potential for the Treatment of Allergies by Modulation of Gut Microbiota, Current Allergy and Asthma Reports, 10 September 2021, Vol 21 No 10, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8433104/ (accessed 4 March 2022).
[14] F Blanco-Pérez, et al., The Dietary Fiber Pectin: Health Benefits and Potential for the Treatment of Allergies by Modulation of Gut Microbiota, Current Allergy and Asthma Reports, 10 September 2021, Vol 21 No 10, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8433104/ (accessed 4 March 2022).
[15] F Blanco-Pérez, et al., The Dietary Fiber Pectin: Health Benefits and Potential for the Treatment of Allergies by Modulation of Gut Microbiota, Current Allergy and Asthma Reports, 10 September 2021, Vol 21 No 10, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8433104/ (accessed 4 March 2022).
[16] Y. Li, et al., Modified apple polysaccharides could induce apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells, Journal Food Science, October 2010, Vol 75 No 8, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21535499/ (accessed 5 March 2022).
[17] H Ohkami, et al., Effect of apple pectin on fecal bacterial enzymes in azoxymethane induced rat colon carcinogenesis, Japanese Journal of Cancer Research, June 1995, Vol 86 No 6, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7622415/ (accessed 5 March 2022).
[18] Y. Li, et al., Modified apple polysaccharides could induce apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells, Journal Food Science, October 2010, Vol 75 No 8, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21535499/ (accessed 5 March 2022).
[19] Y. Li, et al., Modified apple polysaccharides could induce apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells, Journal Food Science, October 2010, Vol 75 No 8, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21535499/ (accessed 5 March 2022).
[20] F Blanco-Pérez, et al., The Dietary Fiber Pectin: Health Benefits and Potential for the Treatment of Allergies by Modulation of Gut Microbiota, Current Allergy and Asthma Reports, 10 September 2021, Vol 21 No 10, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8433104/ (accessed 4 March 2022).
[21] I Eliaz, et al., Integrative medicine and the role of modified citrus pectin/alginates in heavy metal chelation and detoxification--five case reports, . Forschende Komplementmedizin, December 2007, Vol 14 No 6, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18219211/ (accessed 5 March 2022).
[22] ZY Zhao, et al., The role of modified citrus pectin as an effective chelator of lead in children hospitalized with toxic lead levels, Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, July-August 2008, Vol 14 No 4, Erratum in: Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, November-December 2008, Vol 14 No 6, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18616067/ (accessed 7 March 2022); entire article in pdf format posted at https://tahomaclinic.com/Private/Articles4/ModifiedCitrusPectin/Zhao%202008%20-%20The%20Role%20of%20Modified%20Citrus%20Pectin%20as%20an%20Effective%20Chelator%20of%20Lead%20in%20Children%20Hospitalized%20With%20Toxic%20Lead%20Levels.pdf (accessed 7 March 2022).
[23] ZY Zhao, et al., The role of modified citrus pectin as an effective chelator of lead in children hospitalized with toxic lead levels, Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, July-August 2008, Vol 14 No 4, Erratum in: Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, November-December 2008, Vol 14 No 6, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18616067/ (accessed 7 March 2022); entire article in pdf format posted at https://tahomaclinic.com/Private/Articles4/ModifiedCitrusPectin/Zhao%202008%20-%20The%20Role%20of%20Modified%20Citrus%20Pectin%20as%20an%20Effective%20Chelator%20of%20Lead%20in%20Children%20Hospitalized%20With%20Toxic%20Lead%20Levels.pdf (accessed 7 March 2022).
[24] F Blanco-Pérez, et al., The Dietary Fiber Pectin: Health Benefits and Potential for the Treatment of Allergies by Modulation of Gut Microbiota, Current Allergy and Asthma Reports, 10 September 2021, Vol 21 No 10, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8433104/ (accessed 4 March 2022).
[25] VB Nesterenko, et al., Reducing the 137Cs-load in the organism of "Chernobyl" children with apple-pectin, Swiss Medicine Weekly, 10 January 2004, Vol 134 No 1-2, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14745664/ (accessed 7 March 2022).
