In its native form citrus pectin is a water-soluble fiber that is known to bind to cholesterol and bile acids in the
intestinal tract and block their absorption into the bloodstream. Bile acids are a building block of cholesterol in the
body, thus pectin fiber is known to help reduce high blood cholesterol by inhibiting the absorption of both dietary
cholesterol and bile acids. Pectin fiber also binds to certain heavy metals (lead, aluminum, cadmium) in the
intestinal tract and helps to block their absorption into the bloodstream. As Modified Citrus Pectin still retains much
of the properties of pectin fiber (with the exception that it can be absorbed into the bloodstream and pectin fiber
cannot), Modified Citrus Pectin appears to be able to pull cholesterol out of the artery wall in places where it was
previously deposited. This ef ect helps to open up the artery, allowing improved blood flow and reducing risk of
heart disease and stroke. Modified Citrus Pectin has also been shown to act as chelating agent in the bloodstream
by pulling out heavy metals that were previously deposited due to environmental exposures and heavy metals
entering the body from contaminated food and water. Modified Citrus Pectin is currently under investigation to see
how ef ectively it can perform these functions.1,7
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Dosage and Standardized Grade
1. To Help Prevent Cancer Metastasis - Typically 5 gms, three times per day. Dilute Modified Citrus Pectin powder in
favorite beverage. Up to 30 gms per day may be taken safely. It is also available in capsules and tablets.1,8
2. Cholesterol Lowering - 5 gms, three times per day 1,7
Adverse Side Effects, Toxicity and Contraindications
Modified Citrus Pectin is well tolerated, with no reported side ef ects except for occasional mild gastrointestinal
complaints. No toxic effects have been seen in animal or human intervention studies.1Drug-Nutrient Interactions
Drug-Nutrient Interactions
There are no well-known drug-nutrient interactions for Modified Citrus Pectin.1
Pregnancy and Lactation
During pregnancy and lactation, the only supplements that are considered safe include standard prenatal
vitamin and mineral supplements. All other supplements or dose alterations may pose a threat to the
developing fetus and there is generally insuf icient evidence at this time to determine an absolute level of
safety for most dietary supplements other than a prenatal supplement. Any supplementation practices
beyond a prenatal supplement should involve the cooperation of the at ending physician (e.g., magnesium
and the treatment of preeclampsia.)
References: Pregnancy and Lactation
1. Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplements. Murray M. Prima Publishing 1998.
2. Reavley NM. The New Encyclopedia of Vitamins, Minerals, Supplements, and Herbs. Evans and
Company Inc. 1998.
3. The Healing Power of Herbs (2nd edition). Murray M. Prima Publishing 1995.
4. Boon H and Smith M. Health Care Professional Training Program in Complementary Medicine.
Institute of Applied Complementary Medicine Inc. 1997.
1. Eliaz I. The role of modified citrus pectin in the prevention of cancer metastasis. Townsend Letter for Doctors & Patients, Jul99(192):p64
2. Kidd PM. A new approach to metastatic cancer prevention: modified citrus pectin (MCP), a unique pectin that blocks cell surface lectins.
Alternative medicine Review Jan 1, 1997;1(1):4-10
3. Inohara H, Raz, A. Effects of natural complex carbohydrate 9citrus pectin) on murine melanoma cell properties related to galextin-3
functions. Glycoconj J 1994 Dec;11(6):527-32
4. Modified Citris Pectin-Monograph. Altern med Rev Dec2000;5(6):573-5
5. Pienta KJ, Naik H, Akhtar A, Yamazaki K, Replogle TS, Lehr J, et al. Inhibition of spontaneious metastasis in a rat prostate cancer model
by oral administration of modified citrus pectin. J Natl Cancer Inst 1995 Mar 1;87(5):348-53
6. Klotter J. Scientific Journal for Natural Therapies: Alternative Medicine Review. Townsend Letter for Doctors & Patients, Jul97(168):p145
7. Vargo D, Doyle R, Floch MH. Colonic bacterial flora and serum cholesterol: Alterations induced by dietary citrus pectin. Am J
Gastroenterol, May1985;80(5):361-4
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8. Strum S, Scholz M, McDermed J. Modified citrus pectin slows PSA doubling time: A pilot clinical trial. Presentation: International
Conference On Diet and Prevention of Cancer. Tampere, Finland. May 1999
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Methylsulfonyl Methane (MSM)
General Features
MSM is a naturally occurring sulfur compound, which first arose from a complex series of reactions in the surface
waters of the ocean, according our present scientific understanding. 1 One of the products of oceanic phytoplankton
production is the compound DMS (dimethylsulfide). DMS is a volatile liquid that easily finds its way into the upper
layers of the atmosphere, where it becomes oxidized (photochemically) to form a variety of sulfur compounds,
including MSM and DMSO (dimethylsulfoxide). 2 Rain of marine origin is the dominant carrier of atmospheric MSM,
which provides much of the sulfur used to make biologically important sulfur –containing nutrients that we derive from
plant and animal foods.
MSM’s hexavalent sulfur atom is abstracted by living organisms and is primarily used for the biochemical synthesis of
many divalent sulfur-containing products. When MSM is broken apart by plants and animals, a portion of the sulfur is
used to synthesize sulfur-containing amino acids (methionine and cystine) and another portion is used directly to
produce many other biologically important organo-sulfur molecules (e.g., isothiocyanates, allicin, allyl propyl disulfide,
diallyl disulfide). 3 Yet, many foods contain unadulterated MSM in its native form that has been absorbed from the soil
by plants and passed up the food chain. As such, MSM in its native form is a common nutrient found in small amounts
in grains, green vegetables, fish, meat and cow’s milk. 4,5 In this native form MSM is well absorbed and shows up in
human urine with an excretion rate ranging from 4–11mg per day. 6 Maintenance levels of MSM in humans has been
shown to be as low as 0.5–1.0 mg/kg of body weight per day. 7 Thus, a person weighing 70 kg would require 35–70
mg per day of MSM, which primarily acts as a sulfur donor to repair and restore damaged covalent disulfide bonds and
the sulfhydral groups of many enzymes. 8 In this capacity, MSM is considered to be an integral part of maintaining the
structural integrity of connective tissues, cartilage, nails, skin, hair, and certain enzymes, hormones, and
immunoglobulins. 3
From a therapeutic standpoint, MSM supplementation, at levels that exceed those at ainable from food alone, is
emerging as a significant intervention in the treatment and prevention of a number of common conditions. Thus, many
holistically minded practitioners are showing a high level of interest in MSM supplementation for use as a preventive
and therapeutic agent. In regards to stability, MSM is very volatile and considerable amounts are destroyed during
modern day food processing.
From a historical perspective it has been argued that MSM is a chemical that has been present on earth for a very
long time. During the development of higher life forms on this planet three nutrients were always present: water,
sodium chloride and MSM. As such, MSM has been shown to be a factor in the diets of our ancestors, which serves to
strengthen the notion that MSM may be an overlooked and vital nutrient that is required for health maintenance. 3
Clinical Application and Mechanism of Action
1. Arthritis and Inflammatory Conditions Of The Musculoskeletal System
For many years the compound DMSO (dimethylsulfoxide) has been used as a topical agent in veterinary medicine
due to its well established anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. 9 DMSO has also been used by athletes for
topical treatment of sports-related injuries involving inflammation of muscles, tendons, ligaments and bursitis
problems. 10 Unfortunately, toxicity studies using DMSO revealed that it causes damage to the lens of the eye in
animal studies, which was shown to be reversible upon DMSO with drawl. Although this effect has not been
demonstrated in humans, The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was reluctant to approve its use as a
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therapeutic compound for humans. However, in 1978, DMSO was approved by the FDA for its use as an ef ective
treatment for interstitial cystitis. 11, 12
An additional drawback to the use of DMSO is the strong garlic-breath one is left with after its application. This
occurs due to the fact that the body metabolizes much of DMSO to DMS. 10 Approximately 15% of DMSO is
metabolized by the body into MSM, which does not produce the garlic-breath ef ect generated by DMS. 13 Unlike
DMSO, MSM can be taken orally for therapeutic purposes. It is very soluble in water and is readily absorbed from
the GI tract. 1,14,15,16
Animal studies have demonstrated that MSM has potent anti-inflammatory properties and can help to halt the
further destruction of joint cartilage in osteoarthritis. These studies also revealed an improvement in joint mobility.
17,18,27
More recently, a number of human trials have been undertaken to establish the ef icacy of MSM in musculoskeletal
disorders. Drs. Jacob and Lawrence have conducted controlled studies using MSM in cases of arthritis. Dr. Jacob
compared MSM to the over-the-counter, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, Motrin. Subjects in both groups
reported the same degree of pain relief after one month of follow up. 19 Dr. Lawrence compared MSM to a placebo
in a double-blind study. Results demonstrated that pain relief was significantly greater in patients given the MSM.
Eighty-two percent of the patients given the MSM reported significant pain reduction versus 18% in the placebo
group. 20 Both Drs. Jacob and Lawrence indicate that ef icacy of MSM is further enhanced by combining it with
glucosamine sulfate. 19 Both of these clinicians also use MSM supplementation in the treatment of back pain. For
the treatment of a broad spectrum of pain and inflammatory conditions (non-migraine headache, fibromyalgia,
tendonitis, carpal-tunnel syndrome) the authors cite figures of up to 70% of patients reporting marked relief of
symptoms when MSM was added to the treatment regime. Other conditions that may benefit from MSM
supplementation include rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, scleroderma and interstitial cystitis. 19 Dr. Jacobs has used
MSM in the treatment of more than 18,000 patients suf ering from osteoarthritis and a variety of autoimmune
diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis. It is generally accepted that MSM acts to support the structural integrity of
joint cartilage, provides an anti-inflammatory effect to some degree and may have mild analgesic properties as well.
The combination of these ef ects is thought to account for the results seen in clinical studies involving arthritic
patients and patients presenting with other musculoskeletal and inflammatory conditions. 19