Modified Citrus Pectin For Toxic Heavy Metal Chelation(Mercury & Lead)

With the significant rise in environmental and heavy metal toxicity, the need for safe and effective natural chelation methods has become a necessity.

Scientific research has found that individuals with certain conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorders, for example, are especially prone to accumulating toxic metals and suffering from mercury poisoning and copper/zinc imbalances.

There is a multitude of biochemical reasons why individuals with Autism for example, have impaired ability to properly detox and remove heavy metals such as mercury, lead, cadmium and aluminium.

Briefly some of the factors which can contribute to the poor detoxification of toxic metals include genetic defects such as MTHFR gene mutations, which impact the methylation process, low levels of the master antioxidant glutathione, low zinc/pyrrole disorder and issues with vitamin b6 metabolism, which affects the transsulfuration pathways and all of these issues further contribute to oxidative stress, inflammation and impaired detoxification pathways, which can allow toxic metals to accumulate in the body.  Gut flora imbalances also impair the digestive system’s ability to break down and remove toxic metals.

There are now a number of small studies which has found the use of modified citrus pectin and alginate supplements to significantly reduce the total body burden of toxic heavy metals such as mercury and lead.

Modified citrus pectin (also known as citrus pectin, Pecta-Sol and MCP) is a modified, more digestible form of pectin. It is obtained from the peels, seeds and pulp of citrus fruits which are rich sources of pectin, using an extraction process.

Modified Citrus Pectin has also shown other potential health benefits such as supporting cellular health and immune response, maintains healthy galectin-3 levels, preventing cancer metastasis by inhibiting angiogenesis and metastasis.

Modified Citrus Pectin For Chelating Toxic Heavy Metals(Mercury & Lead)

One pilot study from 2008 on the role of modified citrus pectin as an effective chelator of lead in children hospitalized with toxic lead levels found a dramatic decrease in blood serum levels of lead(P = .0016; 161% average change) and a dramatic increase in 24-hour urine collection (P = .0007; 132% average change).

The study concluded –

“The need for a gentle, safe heavy metal-chelating agent, especially for children with high environmental chronic exposure, is great. The dramatic results and no observed adverse effects in this pilot study along with previous reports of the safe and effective use of MCP in adults indicate that MCP could be such an agent. Further studies to confirm its benefits are justified.” [1]

Five case studies from 2007 showed a significant reduction in toxic heavy metals (74% average decrease), which was achieved without side effects, with the use of PectaSol-C (modified citrus pectin) (MCP) (EcoNugenics; Santa Rosa, CA, USA) alone or with an MCP/alginates combination.

The review study concluded –

“The gradual decrease of total body heavy metal burden is believed to have played an important role in each patient’s recovery and health maintenance. This is the first known documentation of evidence of such results in a clinical report of case studies with a possible correlation between clinical outcome and a reduction in toxic heavy metal load in patients using MCP and/or an MCP/alginate complex.” [2]

A pilot study from 2006 once again found promising results using modified citrus pectin with significant increases in urinary excretion of toxic metals in subjects with a ‘normal’ body load of metals.

Twenty-four hour urine samples were collected on day 1 and day 6 for comparison with baseline.

The urine samples were analysed for toxic and essential elements. In the first 24 h of MCP administration the urinary excretion of arsenic increased significantly (130%, p < 0.05). On day 6, urinary excretion was increased significantly for cadmium (150%, p < 0.05). In addition, lead showed a dramatic increase in excretion (560%, p < 0.08).

The study suggested that systemic chelation of toxic metals by MCP may in part be attributable to the presence of rhamnogalacturonan II, which has been shown previously to chelate metals. [3]

References

1. The role of modified citrus pectin as an effective chelator of lead in children hospitalized with toxic lead levels.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18616067

2. Integrative medicine and the role of modified citrus pectin/alginates in heavy metal chelation and detoxification–five case reports.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18219211

3. The effect of modified citrus pectin on urinary excretion of toxic elements.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16835878
The information in this article has not been evaluated by the FDA and should not be used to diagnose, cure or treat any disease, implied or otherwise.