Any time you enjoy jams and jellies, you're also enjoying the benefits of pectin. First isolated in the 1820s and not commercially produced until 1908, pectin is now widely used in food production, pharmaceuticals and manufacturing. Scientific research has also shown that pectin may have potential health benefits and may even hold promise in treating and preventing cancer.
Identification
Pectin is a soluble fiber found in most plants, but in higher concentrations in the peel and pulp of apples and other fruits. Modified citrus pectin is an altered form that has shorter carbohydrate chains and may be better absorbed by your body. Pectin is used as a food gelling agent to improve the texture of low-sugar drinks and to stabilize acidic protein drinks like those made with yogurt, whey and soy, during the heating process.
Pectin Levels
Fruits that contain high levels of pectin include apples, crab apples, blackberries, gooseberries, cranberries, grapes, plums, quince and medlars, which are a cross between a pear and a hawthorn. All peels from citrus fruits are also high in pectin. Fruits that are low in pectin content include apricot, blueberries, cherries, peaches, pears, raspberries, rhubarb and strawberries. Pectin fiber is often added to processed foods such as corn flakes and breads.
Health Benefits
Pectin in in-vitro and animal studies has demonstrated benefits in treating diarrhea and abdominal cramps and may be able to reduce levels of high cholesterol. The most interesting health studies on pectin have been in relation to cancer, primarily melanoma and cancers of the breast, colon, lung and prostate. The American Cancer Society notes that modified citrus pectin may be useful for preventing or slowing the growth of metastatic tumors in very early stages of development. Research published in "The FASEB Journal" in February 2009 reported that a fragment released from pectin inhibits galectin 3, a protein that plays a role in all stages of cancer progression.
Considerations
There have been a few reports of asthma after exposure to powdered pectin, and modified citrus pectin may cause serious allergic reactions if you're allergic to citrus fruits. High doses of modified citrus pectin may cause mild abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Because of pectin's high fiber content, it lowers the transit time of stool through your intestinal tract and may affect the absorption of medications. If you have high cholesterol levels and are taking lovastatin, pectin may increase harmful low-density lipoprotein.
References
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center; Pectin; February 2011
- International Pectin Producers Association: What is Pectin?
- CooksInfo.com: Pectin
- "The FASEB Journal"; Recognition of Galactan Components of Pectin by Galectin-3; A. Patrick Gunning, et al.; February 2009
- American Cancer Society; Modified Citrus Pectin; November 2008
