Pectin and Heart Disease

A study done at the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainsville gave pectin from grapefruit to people with moderate to high risk of heart disease due to high cholesterol and found that, without any other changes in their diet or lifestyle, pectin significantly lowered total cholesterol an average of 7.6 percent and low-density lipoproteins (LDL), or "bad" cholesterol, an average of 9.8 percent.

Significance

The study lasted for 16 weeks. Subjects receiving the pectin or placebo were reversed halfway through the trial, accounting for all possible variables. The double-blind study used pectin extracted from grapefruit mixed with guar gum and insoluble fiber. The dose of pectin used in the study was 15 grams per day.

Features

Over-the-counter medicine for diarrhea such as Kaopectate used to contain pectin, but the FDA required removal of the ingredient after studies failed to show enough evidence to warrant its use in anti-diarrhea medication. However, pectin prescription drugs such as Pectasol and Econegenics are being tried in Third World countries for treatment of infant diarrhea in children ages 5 months to 12 months. Pectin taken to lower cholesterol should be mixed with fiber because it is naturally in pectin-containing fruits and vegetables.

History

Dr. James Cerda, leader of the Florida study, had tested the effects of pectin on animals in 1973 and found that a diet of 3 percent grapefruit pectin lowered plasma cholesterol by one-third.
Another study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that blood cholesterol in rats dropped 27 percent when they were fed a diet of 7 percent pectin. Researchers believe pectin stimulates secretion of bile acids, which are made from excess cholesterol in the liver, lowering plasma levels.
Engineers at Pennsylvania State University developed a steam process to extract pectin from orange peels in 2003. Before then, most pectin was extracted in Europe by slow cooking lime peels imported from Mexico and South America. The development lowered cost, shortened the time required for production and improved the quality of pectin produced in the United States.

Sources

Pectin is a complex carbohydrate found in many fruits. Pectin is rich (especially in the pith and peelings) of citrus fruits, apples and plums. Soft fruits such as strawberries contain smaller amounts of pectin. It is also found in carrots and dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale and romaine lettuce.

Warning

Grapefruit can interact with and enhance the potency of some medications. Consult a pharmacist.
Pectin may reduce absorption and effectiveness of certain antibiotics, heart medications or cholesterol lowering drugs. Check with a doctor about timing medications to prevent this effect.

References

• Pub Med
• Pennsylvania State College of Agricultural Sciences
• Chemistry of Pectin and Pharmaceutical Uses, Sriamornsak P., 2001

Resources

• University of Maryland Medical Center