I’ve been busy working on a new course so I haven’t been actively posting articles lately, but I wanted to end the year with information on the healing benefits of Modified Citrus Pectin (MCP).

Science has long known that citrus fruit and pectin has healing properties, going back to ancient times. The problem has been that it isn’t all that bioavailable, meaning it’s hard for the body to take in all of its beneficial nutrients.

To address that issue, researchers have learned how to chemically chop citrus pectin into tinier pieces and to change its structure – chemically linking a carbohydrate to sugar molecules – to improve bioavailability. Called Modified Citrus Pectin or MCP, it has been shown to help combat many different types of cancer, help the body to release heavy metals, and may also reduce blood cholesterol levels.

I first became aware of MCP in my own breast cancer journey in 2004 when my naturopath recommended I start taking it immediately, even prior to surgery. She was keen to have me start it to slow down the growth of my fast-growing tumor. I recall that she had me stop taking it in the week leading up to my surgery, however, because MCP is a very strong galectin-3 blocker and that is required to help heal wounds, and we didn’t want to mess with that.

First a bit about Galectin-3, then I’ll share with you all of the things that have been discovered about MCP.

Galectin-3

Galectin-3 isn’t a bad thing, it is a lectin found naturally in our cells, and it has a wide range of biological functions including promoting cell growth, apoptosis (planned cell death), cell differentiation, transformation, angiogenesis (growth of new blood vessels), the development of fibrous connective tissue as a repair response to injury or damage, and it is involved in inflammation. It is found in all types of immune cells.[1]

The problem is that if galectin-3 levels are higher than they should be, it can be a promoter of cancer, chronic inflammation, heart disease and stroke.

I will focus on the breast cancer aspect (always the focus in this website). Cancer cells can use galectin-3 to communicate with each other, it promotes the stickiness of cancer cells which allows them to clump together to form a tumor. Galectin-3 also makes cancer cells more difficult to be located by the immune system, promotes rapid cancer cell growth, promotes angiogenesis, retards apoptosis and can promote metastasis (cancer spreading through the body). Galectin-3 levels can be discovered by a blood test.

The Healing Potential of Modified Citrus Pectin

We have a growing body of research, both preclinical and clinical, and in many different types of cancer, which indicates that MCP has potent effects on cancer growth and metastasis, and has other anti-cancer properties. In particular, MCP research shows:

Downregulates Galectin-3

MCP is quite effective at downregulating (blocking) galectin-3. It appears to adhere to galectin-3 when it is attached to a cancer cell, making the cell slippery and neutralizing the clumping effect that galectin-3 has. This action of MCP has been shown to reduce cancer growth and metastasis. [2] – [6]

Potent Anti-cancer Properties

MCP has been shown to promote tumor cell arrest, inhibit the invasiveness of tumor cells, inhibit the metastatic potential of a tumor, inhibit angiogenesis, and reduce cancer cell resistance to chemotherapy. [7] – [10]

MCP was shown to work synergistically with a product called BreastDefend™ to inhibit the invasiveness of breast cancer cells [11], meaning that the two combined worked better than either substance on its own.

MCP could be beneficial in reducing CTCs (circulating tumor cells). [12]

Several studies also indicated that MCP combined well with chemotherapy drugs like paclitaxel and cisplatin to increase their cancer cell-killing ability. [13] – [15]

MCP has also been shown to have chemopreventive (cancer-preventive) properties. [16], [17]

Heavy Metal Chelator

MCP is a good mild chelator of heavy metals. [18] – [20].

To “chelate” means to latch onto, and in this way, MCP latches onto heavy metals and carries them out of the body. It is considered a mild chelator and safe for those who have silver (mercury) fillings in their teeth, unlike EDTA or DMSA which are much stronger chelators and can prove to be harmful to those with mercury fillings unless they are very careful and follow a particular protocol.

MCP has been shown to gently remove lead, arsenic, and cadmium without affecting essential minerals.

In a 2006 clinical trial, MCP was shown to help move heavy metals from the body and excrete them via the urine. In this clinical trial, researchers gave healthy individuals 15 grams of MCP per day for 5 days, then 20 grams on Day 6. Urine samples were tested at the end of Day 1 and then again on Day 6. In the first 24 hours, urinary excretion of arsenic increased by 130%, cadmium levels in Day 6 urine samples rose by 150% compared to Day 1, and lead levels increased by 560% on Day 6. Essential minerals such as zinc, magnesium, and calcium were not affected. [18]

Immune System Benefits

MCP enhances immune cells by activating T cells, B cells and natural killer cells. [21], [22]

MCP also inhibits tumor-associated macrophage survival. [23], [24] Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are closely related to the ability of a tumor to metastasize. TAMs are the key cells that create the very environment that suppresses the immune system’s response to a tumor by producing chemicals like cytokines, chemokines, various growth factors, and triggering inhibitory immune proteins.

May Mildly Reduce Cholesterol, Atherosclerosis

MCP may help to reduce high cholesterol levels, which can be a problem for post-menopausal breast cancer survivors. It may also be of benefit in reducing atherosclerosis as it is a galectin-3 inhibitor. ]26\\, [26]

Suggested Dosing with MCP

I have obtained this information from Dr Isaac Eliaz, who designed PectaSolC® and conducted several of the studies on its use.

For Survivors, No Tumors Present

5 grams/day for up to 3 years

Active Cancer

15 grams/day – split into 5 gram doses three times a day

If Having a Biopsy

15 grams/day – split into 5 gram doses three times a day. Begin taking this one week before procedure, and continuing until two weeks after the procedure.

Prior to Surgery

15 grams/day – split into 5 gram doses three times a day. Take this up until ONE WEEK prior to surgery, but then stop taking MCP in the 7 days prior to surgery. Resume after surgery as soon as practicable and continue for two weeks after surgery.

Heavy Metal Chelation – High Body Burden Levels:

15 grams/day – split into 5 gram doses three times a day, continuing for two months.

Heavy Metal Chelation – Lower Body Burden Levels:

15 grams/day for 5 days in a month (split into 5 gram doses three times per day) then reducing to 5 grams/day the rest of the month

IMPORTANT NOTE: Be sure to stop taking MCP one week prior to any surgery

Please do not consider modified citrus pectin as a stand-alone therapy against breast cancer. As with any natural therapy, be sure to consult with a naturopath or integrative oncologist for advice for your particular health challenge.

References:

[1] Galectin-3 as a novel biomarker for disease diagnosis and a target for therapy (Review) – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5752178/
[2] Inhibition of human cancer cell growth and metastasis in nude mice by oral intake of modified citrus pectin – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12488479
[3] Galectin-3 expression in human breast carcinoma: correlation with cancer histologic grade – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9592187
[4] Synergistic effects of PectaSol-C modified citrus pectin an inhibitor of Galectin-3 and paclitaxel on apoptosis of human SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cells – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24460334
[5] Modified citrus pectin inhibited bladder tumor growth through downregulation of galectin-3 – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6289393/
[6] Analysis of the neutral polysaccharide fraction of MCP and its inhibitory activity on galectin-3 – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22562786/
[7] Modified citrus pectin anti-metastatic properties: one bullet, multiple targets – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2782490/
[8] Inhibition of human cancer cell growth and metastasis in nude mice by oral intake of modified citrus pectin – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12488479
[9] PectaSol-C modified citrus pectin induces apoptosis and inhibition of proliferation in human and mouse androgen-dependent and- independent prostate cancer cells – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20462856/
[10] Modified citrus pectin anti-metastatic properties: one bullet, multiple targets – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2782490/
[11] Synergistic and additive effects of modified citrus pectin with two polybotanical compounds, in the suppression of invasive behavior of human breast and prostate cancer cells – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22532035
[12] Screening for Circulating Tumour Cells Allows Early Detection of Cancer and Monitoring of Treatment Effectiveness: An Observational Study – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5697492/
[13] Pectasol-C Modified Citrus Pectin targets Galectin-3-induced STAT3 activation and synergize paclitaxel cytotoxic effect on ovarian cancer spheroids – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6675724/
[14] Synergistic effects of PectaSol-C modified citrus pectin an inhibitor of Galectin-3 and paclitaxel on apoptosis of human SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cells – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24460334
[15] Calpain activation through galectin-3 inhibition sensitizes prostate cancer cells to cisplatin treatment – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3032324/
[16] Pectin: A Bioactive Food Polysaccharide with Cancer Preventive Potential – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9657392/
[17] Modified citrus pectin inhibits breast cancer development in mice by targeting tumor-associated macrophage survival and polarization in hypoxic microenvironment – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34462562/
[18] The effect of modified citrus pectin on urinary excretion of toxic elements – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16835878
[19] The role of modified citrus pectin as an effective chelator of lead in children hospitalized with toxic lead levels – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18616067/
[20] Integrative medicine and the role of modified citrus pectin/alginates in heavy metal chelation and detoxification–five case reports – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18219211/
[21] Activation of Human T-Helper/Inducer Cell, T-Cytotoxic Cell, B-Cell, and Natural Killer (NK)-Cells and induction of Natural Killer Cell Activity against K562 Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Cells with Modified Citrus Pectin – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3161912/
[22] Pleiotropic Effects of Modified Citrus Pectin – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6893732/
[23] Modified citrus pectin inhibits breast cancer development in mice by targeting tumor-associated macrophage survival and polarization in hypoxic microenvironment – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34462562/
[24] Galectin-3 expression and secretion by tumor-associated macrophages in hypoxia promotes breast cancer progression – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32579956/
[25] Cholesterol-lowering properties of different pectin types in mildly hyper-cholesterolemic men and women – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22190137/
[26] Inhibition of galectin-3 reduces atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23426722/

Life Extension Article: Modified Citrus Pectin – https://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2004/3/report_citrus