You may remember “pectin” as something that your mom or grandma used as a thickening agent for jams and jellies. Pectin can be used for more than just canning, however. In recent years, research has shown that Modified Citrus Pectin (MCP) is also a powerful cancer killer.
What is Modified Citrus Pectin?
“Pectin” is a carbohydrate substance that is found naturally in the inner cell wall of most plants. It is especially concentrated, however, in the peel and pulp of citrus fruits, including grapefruits, oranges, limes, and lemons.
Naturally occurring pectin is very hard for the human body to absorb. However, scientists have figured out a way to modify it into shorter, soluble fibers that are easily broken down in the digestive system and absorbed into the bloodstream. They “modify” it by adjusting its temperature and pH.
Citrus pectin has little nutritional value, though it is a great source of fiber. Most importantly, however, is the unique way in which it halts the growth of new cancer cells and weakens already formed tumors.
How MCP Kills Cancer Cells
Modified Citrus Pectin works by influencing specialized proteins called galectins. Researchers have long known that galectins, particularly galectin-3, cause cells to clump together because of their sticky nature. Over the last decade, however, studies have shown that these proteins, found especially in epithelial and immune cells, are also associated with cancer growth and metastasis.
A study conducted at the Karmanos Cancer Institute at Wayne State University in Detroit suggested that the presence of galectin-3 contributed to “cancer aggressiveness, metastasis, cell growth, adhesion, differentiation, angiogenesis, apoptosis, invasion, cell-matrix interaction, and dissemination of cancer cells through blood flow and extravasation [i.e., the beginning stages of cancer tumor spread].” Their findings also suggested that galectin-3 plays a role in cancer cell longevity.
In addition:
- A previous study at the University of Alberta in Canada found that higher levels of galectins in the bloodstream equated with more frequent rates of cancer cell proliferation for breast and prostate cancer cells as well as for melanoma.
- A 2010 study published in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences confirmed previous research which “indicates that galectins play important roles in the development of acute inflammation as well as chronic inflammation associated with allergies, autoimmune diseases, atherosclerosis, infectious processes, and cancer.”
This is where Modified Citrus Pectin comes into play. MCP can “stick” to galectin-3 when it is attached to a cancer cell. This makes the cell “slippery” and neutralizes the galectin’s clumping effect and its ability to strengthen tumor growth.
Allopathic cancer treatments often overlook the role that communication, or cancer cell signaling, plays in tumor metastasis. Modified Citrus Pectin, however, has been shown in numerous studies to interfere with cancer cell signaling while keeping healthy cell communication pathways intact. This causes the cells to continue circulating in the bloodstream, never settling in one place and thus losing their ability to form.
One study with prostate cancer patients found that after being treated for a full year with MCP, the patients experienced lowering of PSA concentrations by 70%.
MCP is Also a Major Toxin Chelator
Another way Modified Citrus Pectin fights cancer is in its ability to extract heavy metals from the body which are then passed on through the urine. Heavy metals such as lead and cadmium are immunosuppressants and can lead to genetic mutations and cancer. They can be found in the air, and in drinking water, cleaning products and dental materials. They are also found in some seafood and in sundry products like commercial antiperspirants.
Once a heavy metal “lodges” in a particular place in the body, it can be difficult to remove except through a chelating agent like MCP.
In 2006 trials conducted by the Amitabha Medical Clinic and Healing Center in Northern California, researchers gave otherwise healthy individuals 15 grams of MCP (PectaSol brand) per day and 20 grams on Day 6. They tested urine samples at the end of Day 1 and again on Day 6, yielding some surprising results…
In the first 24 hours, the urinary excretion of the toxic metal arsenic increased by 130%. Cadmium levels in the Day 6 urine samples rose by 150% compared to Day 1, and lead levels increased by a whopping 560% on Day 6. The levels of essential minerals, such as zinc, magnesium, and calcium, were not affected. The researchers noted that the chelating effect of MCP may be due to the presence of the polysaccharide rhamnogalacturonan II (RC-II), which is found in naturally occurring pectin and is maintained in MCP.
How Much Modified Citrus Pectin Should You Take?
MCP can be a powerful addition to your overall health arsenal. If you are considering adding Modified Citrus Pectin to your cancer health protocol, experts typically recommend a minimum dose of 1 teaspoon (5 g) three times a day, although higher doses have not been known to cause side effects. Also, be sure to connect with a high-quality MCP source.
Editor’s Note: This article was initially published in 2022 and has been updated in 2026.
Article Summary
You may know “pectin” as something to thicken jams and jellies. In recent years, however, research has shown that Modified Citrus Pectin (MCP) is also a powerful cancer killer.
“Pectin” is a carbohydrate substance that is found naturally in the inner cell wall of most plants. It is especially concentrated in the peel and pulp of citrus fruits.
MCP can “stick” to proteins called galectins when attached to a cancer cell. This makes the cell “slippery” and neutralizes the clumping effect of the galectin which prevents it from making tumors stronger.
Modified Citrus Pectin has shown in numerous studies to have the ability to interfere with cancer cell signaling while keeping healthy cell communication pathways intact.
One study with prostate cancer patients found that after being treated for a full year with MCP, the patients experienced lowering of PSA concentrations by 70%.
Another way MCP fights cancer is in its ability to extract heavy metals from the body which are then passed on through the urine.
Experts typically recommend a dose of 1 teaspoon (5 g) 3 times a day at minimum, although higher doses have not been known to cause side effects. Look for a high-quality source of MCP such as PectaSol-C.
Can you recommend where and what brand of MCP I should buy.
My daughter had a reoccurring brain tumor (astrocytoma)in June and is currently on chemo for 12 months.
She takes Temador 320 mg 5 days out of every month.
Any suggestions on treatment?
Thank you
Tami
My close family all have died from cancer.MY mother(eye to brain) dad Pancreas,my youngest sister(39) my only brother Roy bowel cancer 2004 my eldest sister heart attack,mother in law, lung cancer my sons two in laws both in their 60s died of bone cancer
2014 meselthomia also unrelated in son in laws sister,,brother in law & brotherlung cancer Many more acquaintances,PS I healed my self from skin cancer with black salve some years ago
could the cause be environmental? Do you all live in the same area?
My husband’ family lived in an area that was prone to cancers. Found out years later, after someone researched into it, that the water was probably causing the likely hood of cancer.
Brian, Can you provide a link or source for the black salve? I had a really good one years ago and cannot find it any more.
The PSA test has been discredited – it does -not- reliably indicate cancer of the prostate.
The inventor, Richard Ablin, advised against using his test for cancer screening and in later years co-wrote the book: ‘The Great Prostate Hoax.’ He compared PSA screening to “a coin toss.”
https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22129564-400-prostate-cancer-test-has-been-misused-for-money/
The failure rate (i.e. the rate of false positives) is astonishing: 75% of men with elevated PSA don’t have cancer!
Considering prostate surgery after a PSA test? Don’t…
I add an orange or a mandarine to my breakfast smoothie everyday. I even drink fresh whole lemon juice every single day. Sometimes, I make the orange, grapefruit, and lemon juice and it is so good.