Modified Citrus Pectin (MCP)
Modified citrus pectin supplement
According to the US National Cancer Institute, a dietary supplement containing the modified citrus pectin (MCP) derived from the soluble fiber of citrus fruit peels and a galectin-3 inhibitor with potential antioxidant, hypocholesterolemic, immunostimulatory, metal chelating, and anti-metastatic activities. Binding of MCP may result in the suppression of cancer cell aggregation, adhesion, proliferation and metastasis. In addition, MCP decreases prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels and may remove heavy metals. Also, unsaturated oligogalacturonic acids in MCP may stimulate the immune system through the activation of natural killer cells, cytotoxic T-cells, and B-cells.
Studies
This 2020 laboratory study looked at the effects of MCP on triple negative breast cancer cells. It found that MCP slowed and reduced migration, confirming its antimetastatic potential which may vary depending on the modification applied.
Study: The data demonstrates that MCP is a substance with strong immunostimulatory properties in human blood samples, including the activation of functional NK cells against K562 leukemic cells in culture.
This study concluded: Due to its anti-adhesive, apoptosis-promoting, and apoptosis-inducing properties, it appears that MCP is capable of targeting multiple critical rate-limiting steps involved in cancer metastasis. In addition, by inhibiting Gal-3 anti-apoptotic function and enhancing apoptosis induced by cytotoxic drugs, it holds the potential to increase dramatically the efficiency of a conventional chemotherapy. The progression of this promising anti-cancer agent into clinical practice, hampered by various factors, was rather slow. Nevertheless, limited clinical studies performed to date demonstrated that MCP significantly increased prostate specific antigen doubling time in patients with recurrent prostate cancer, thus confirming its potential usefulness in treating prostatic neoplasia.
Adverse effects
May cause abdominal cramping and/or diarrhea at doses of > 14 g per day
Source: ClinMed International Library
Updated 2024