Why Does Your Body Need Citrus Fruits

 

There are molecules in our bodies that are beneficial in youth, but turn against us as we age.

One of these compounds is galectin-3. Excess levels are associated with heart failure, kidney disease, and cancer.^1-4

Doctors have long recognized galectin-3 as a biomarker for degenerative disease.^5-10 New research is revealing that galectin-3 is far more than an indicator of disease—it is purported to have a causative role in these conditions.^11-14

Drug companies have had little success in their attempts to fight the destructive actions of galectin-3. Fortunately, scientists have discovered a citrus extract that has potent galectin-3 inhibitory properties.

Found in the pith of citrus fruit peels, modified citrus pectin (MCP) has been shown to inactivate galectin-3, blocking its ability to send destructive molecular signals throughout the body.⁴

Because of its ability to block galectin-3, modified citrus pectin is emerging as a key natural compound in the battle against heart failure, cancer, and kidney disease.^4,15,16

Keeping Galectin-3 In Balance

 

Galectin-3, like many biologically active molecules, has a distinct and important role in maintaining good health, but galectin-3 becomes a problem when it occurs in excessive amounts. In normal health, for example, galectin-3 provides an important defense against bacteria following acute tissue damage by helping induce local inflammation and an immune response that destroys the invading organisms.¹⁷ And with chronic or repetitive tissue injury, galectin-3 participates in the transition to chronic inflammation, helping to “wall off” the injured or infected area.¹⁷

The problem with this action is that it produces tissue scarring that in the long run impairs the function of the very organ or tissue it was trying to protect.¹⁷ In addition, galectin-3 is involved in an important process called “tissue remodeling,” in which cells in various tissues become altered in response to damaging stimuli. Remodeling is an important part of heart failure and stroke,^18-21 and although we might not typically think of it this way, cancer can be viewed as an aggressive and malignant form of remodeling.²²

These multiple actions mean that galectin-3 has a wide variety of biological functions and plays a key role in physiological and pathological processes involved in cancer, cardiovascular disease, and the pro-aging process of fibrosis.^17,23-25 All of these disorders share a common factor of increased inflammation and altered immune function, so galectin-3 may be considered a pro-inflammatory, immune-altering molecule.^26,27 In addition, levels of galectin-3 rise significantly with advancing age, making it a prime target for anti-aging therapies.^25,28

The Role of Galectin-3 In Cancer Development

For many cancers, rates rise dramatically with advancing age.^29,30 There is now plenty of evidence that some of the hallmarks of developing cancers, such as inflammation, immune function alterations, and local and metastatic spread, are related to galectin-3 actions.

Because increased concentrations of circulating galectin-3 are so prevalent in growing cancers, it has been suggested as a biomarker for specific cancers, such as prostate, ovarian, and breast cancer.^31-34 But increasing evidence suggests that galectin-3 does more than signal the presence of cancer—it actively participates in cancer growth by promoting cancer cell adhesion to blood vessel linings, a major step in the progression and spread of cancer.^1,2

In addition, the excess galectin-3 produced by cancer cells helps the malignant cells communicate, stick together, rapidly multiply, grow necessary new blood vessels, and evade the normal programmed cell death called apoptosis.^18,26,35,36

Recently, it has been demonstrated that galectin-3 enables cell migration and invasion of melanoma-induced metastasis to the lungs by inducing secretion of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-1 and MMP-9) required to breach vascular basement membranes to the lungs.^37,38 It was shown that galectin-3 is expressed on all the major compartments of the lungs and participates in not just promoting adhesion but also in spreading the cancer to lungs. Additional laboratory studies suggest that overexpression of galectin-3 in lung tissue increases cancer cell adhesion, motility, and organ colonization.^39,40

Galectin-3’s Role In Heart Failure

Studies show that galectin-3 plays a major role in heart failure.

Galectin-3 is a biomarker for fibrosis and inflammation in heart failure.³ People hospitalized for heart failure with galectin-3 levels exceeding 17.8 ng/mL have 2.8 times the odds of being re-admitted at 30 days, and more than three times the odds of being readmitted by 90 days, compared with those having galectin-3 levels below this value.⁴¹

In one study, patients whose galectin-3 levels doubled over 18 months were nearly two times as likely to be hospitalized for heart failure and die of any of a number of causes.⁴² That study also showed a close association between galectin-3 levels and inflammatory markers such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP). Other studies have demonstrated a close correlation between galectin-3 levels and blood pressure, serum lipids, body mass index, kidney function, and other biological markers of disease.^3,18

However, as is the case with cancer, galectin-3 is now recognized as being more than simply a biomarker of impending heart failure—it’s now believed to play a major causative role in the development of heart disease.

Failing heart tissue has been found to produce increased quantities of galectin-3 before clinically evident heart failure.^25,27 In advanced cases of heart failure, galectin-3 levels have been correlated with many of the physical changes that occur as the heart progressively becomes less able to pump blood, such as thickening of the heart wall.²⁷

Animal studies show that increased expression of galectin-3 produces heart muscle dysfunction, with a massive overproduction of the tough, unyielding form of connective tissue called type I collagen that impairs heart muscle elasticity.^15,43 This loss of elasticity and the decreased pumping action that follows are hallmarks of heart failure.

Similarly, animal studies have shown that galectin-3 is found in increased amounts in brain tissue following an ischemic (lack of blood flow) stroke, playing a role in post-stroke tissue remodeling and abnormal new blood vessel formation. ¹⁸

Indeed, galectin-3 is now known to play a causative role in the remodeling of heart and blood vessel tissue that occurs during heart failure.^18,44 This remodeling is linked closely to disease progression and poor prognosis in heart failure. Galectin-3 stimulates the migration of inflammatory cells, proliferation of fibroblasts (the tough, scar-like cells that replace normal contractile heart muscle), and ultimately the development of fibrosis, the stiffening process that impairs heart muscle function.⁴⁵

What You Need To Know

Modified Citrus Pectin

• A common feature of cancer, heart failure, and kidney disease is the pathological replication and reorganization of healthy cells, manifested as changes in tissue structure.
• This harmful “remodeling” of tissue has recently been found to be under the control of a unique molecule called galectin-3.
• Higher galectin-3 levels have now been associated with increased risk and severity of cancer, greater severity and more rapid progression of heart failure, and with both acute and chronic kidney disease.
• Modified citrus pectin (MCP) binds to and inactivates galectin-3, preventing it from delivering its destructive signals to cells and tissues.
• Studies now demonstrate the effectiveness of MCP in laboratory and preclinical settings, where it counteracts galectin-3 actions, slows tissue remodeling, and reduces consequences such as cancer development and metastasis, heart failure, and kidney disease.
• Big Pharma is hot on the trail of drugs that block galectin-3, but MCP is available now in convenient dosing forms, with no recognized side effects.

Nature’s Answer To High Galectin-3 Levels

As the connection between galectin-3 and these major diseases becomes better known, Big Pharma has been hotly pursuing drugs that combat disease by blocking galectin-3. So far it has come up short, but as usual, nature already has a solution. Found in the pith of citrus fruit peels, a compound called modified citrus pectin (MCP) has been shown to inactivate galectin-3.

Most people have heard of pectin as a gelling agent used in fruit preserves and jellies. In fact, many of the chemical properties that make pectin appealing in cooking are similar to those that attract the attention of scientists. Modified citrus pectin is a form of pectin that is especially rich in sugar molecules known as galactosides.^16,46

Galectin-3 molecules specifically interact with the galactosides found in MCP (modified citrus pectin).⁴ This means that, in the presence of this special type of pectin, galectin-3 molecules will bind to the galactoside bonds on the MCP molecules, rather than on those signaling carbohydrate molecules on cell surfaces.⁴⁷

In this way, pectin acts as a “competitive inhibitor,” binding up and inactivating galectin-3, and preventing it from performing the actions that can damage your health. (See Figure below).^4,13,16

Laboratory and clinical evidence has demonstrated that modified citrus pectin’s ability to inhibit galectin-3 helps prevent the formation and spread of cancer, helps mitigate cardiovascular disease, and generally contributes to fighting the pro-aging effects of fibrosis in your body.

Modified Citrus Pectin Diminishes Cancer Risk

Leading cancer researchers have described MCP as “one bullet, multiple targets” because of its multiple, complementary actions in fighting cancer.⁴⁸

Modified citrus pectin helps prevent the spread of cancer.

Modified citrus pectin has demonstrated tremendous anticancer potential, particularly in fighting deadly metastatic spread. This is important because once a cancer metastasizes (spreads to a distant part of the body), it becomes vastly more dangerous and difficult to treat.¹⁶

Early preclinical studies showed that injecting mice with MCP could significantly decrease the likelihood of melanoma (a deadly skin cancer) spreading to the lungs.^46,48,49 The mechanism was later shown to be related to the binding of MCP to galectin-3, which inhibited malignant cells’ ability to grow and stick to normal tissue and blood vessels; this “stickiness” is now recognized as an essential part of the formation of metastases.⁵⁰ Recent research has shown that metastasis of melanoma to the lungs could be hindered by feeding mice MCP in their drinking water, inhibiting galectin-3 found on the lung tissue. The authors concluded that MCP competes with the carbohydrate found on melanoma cells (polyLacNAc) for binding to galectin-3 on the lungs, thereby impacting metastasis.³⁸

Similar antimetastatic actions were also shown for orally administered MCP in animal models of both prostate cancer (which becomes very difficult to treat after it metastasizes) and breast cancer.^50-54

Further preclinical studies showed that by binding to galectin-3, MCP prevented colon cancer from spreading to the liver.⁵⁵ The same model showed that MCP reduces colon cancer size by up to 70% compared with controls.⁵⁶

Modified citrus pectin activates cancer-killing cells.

Studies on human blood samples reveal that MCP also activates cancer-killing immune system cells (natural killer, or NK, cells), boosting their ability to patrol for and eliminate cancers as soon as they form; this is a boost to one of the body’s most important anticancer mechanisms.⁵⁷

Modified citrus pectin induces apoptosis.

In addition to helping to prevent metastases, research on prostate cancer cells shows that MCP works earlier in the production of cancer by restoring malignant cells’ ability to die off normally through programmed cell death (apoptosis).⁵⁸ Importantly, these anticancer actions are effective for both hormone-dependent and hormone-independent cancers; the latter are notoriously challenging to treat.^58,59

In humans with prostate cancer, MCP has been shown to prolong the time it takes for doubling of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels; the more slowly PSA doubles, the more slowly the tumor is growing.⁶⁰

Modified citrus pectin helps boost the effectiveness of cancer treatments.

In laboratory studies of human multiple myeloma (a cancer that affects certain types of white blood cells) and angiosarcoma (a deadly cancer of blood vessels), MCP helps make malignant cells more responsive to chemotherapy while increasing cell death by apoptosis.^61-63

Similar chemo-sensitizing actions of MCP have now been shown for other cancers as well, including prostate and ovarian cancers.^33,64,65 In a laboratory study, MCP was also recently shown to synergize with two natural biological mixtures to fight breast and prostate cancer metastases.⁶⁶

How MCP Battles Galectin-3 In Heart Disease

 

Heart failure remains one of the most challenging problems in clinical medicine today.

It is now known that 30 to 50% of patients with increased galectin-3 levels have progressive or remodeling form of heart failure.¹³

Once thought to be simply a marker of severe, progressive heart failure, galectin-3 is now thought to play a major role in triggering the remodeling and poor function seen in the failing heart.^{12,13,27,67-69}

The good news is that binding or inhibiting galectin-3 can prevent and may even reverse heart failure, even heart failure with extensive fibrosis.⁶⁷

Laboratory studies show that MCP directly counteracts galectin-3-induced changes in heart muscle structure and function.

In one study, galectin-3 was shown to increase production of type I collagen, a major component in arterial stiffness and heart failure; however, inhibiting galectin-3 with modified citrus pectin blocked synthesis of type I collagen.¹⁵ In this study, when hypertensive rats were treated with the hormone aldosterone (which increases blood pressure and worsens heart failure), the control animals demonstrated thickening of blood vessel walls, inflammation, fibrosis, and increased expression of galectin-3; however, treatment with modified citrus pectin reversed all of these effects.¹⁵

One of the underlying risk factors for developing heart attacks, stroke, and heart failure is atherosclerosis, the “hardening” or thickening of the arteries.⁷⁰ Atherosclerotic plaques, the bulging masses of cholesterol and inflammatory cells that threaten to block arteries, are laden with high levels of galectin-3.⁷⁰ When mice that developed atherosclerosis as a result of a high-cholesterol “Western” diet were given oral doses of modified citrus pectin, the volume of their plaques was diminished, the result of galectin-3 inhibition.⁷⁰

Recent studies have highlighted the importance of measuring galectin-3 levels in people at high risk for cardiovascular disease, particularly heart failure and cardiovascular fibrosis.^13,18,42,45 As the evidence grows that galectin-3 is an active participant, not an innocent bystander or simple disease marker, the importance of inhibiting its damaging effects on the heart will be amplified. Modified citrus pectin may offer a simple, natural, safe route to minimizing the impact of galectin-3 on your heart.

MCP Fights Kidney Disease And Fibrosis

Kidney disease and acute kidney injuries involve increased levels and activity of galectin-3. In an animal model of acute kidney injury, the damaged kidneys increased in size, and galectin-3 expression was widespread in several types of tubules inside the kidney.⁴

Research in mice show that when modified citrus pectin is administered before kidney damage is induced experimentally, it significantly reduces kidney enlargement and cuts down on kidney cell proliferation, an early step in fibrosis.⁴ Once the damaging stimulus was removed, MCP-treated mice showed decreased fibrosis, fewer inflammatory cells and cytokines in kidney tissue, and increased programmed cell death (apoptosis)—all in association with reduced levels of galectin-3.⁴

This study demonstrates how modified citrus pectin not only opposes the immediate damaging effects of galectin-3, but also reduces its levels, making for a vastly healthier kidney environment.

Summary

Galectin-3 is a signaling molecule that is involved in tissue growth and repair. This is beneficial in youth, but galectin-3 levels rise with age, and by midlife, galectin-3 may represent more of a threat than an asset. Higher galectin-3 levels serve as markers for elevated cancer risk, cardiovascular disease risk and severity, and kidney disease.

Galectin-3, however, is not simply a marker of disease. Scientists have now shown that galectin-3 is an active player, triggering the harmful changes that characterize each of these conditions. Studies show that inhibiting galectin-3 can markedly reduce, and in some cases reverse, dangerous tissue changes induced by the molecule.

Modified citrus pectin (MCP) is a natural product that inhibits galectin-3, shutting down its ability to communicate with target cells. In the presence of MCP, cancer cells lose their heightened survival and reproductive abilities, as well as their capacity to spread (metastasis); heart tissue undergoes less of the dangerous remodeling that is typical of heart failure following a heart attack or sustained stresses from high blood pressure; and kidney cells become resistant to formation of fibrosis that impairs kidney function.

The future likely holds much more promise for modified citrus pectin as we gain knowledge about galectin-3 and its ubiquitous role in disease. For now, it makes sense for certain individuals to add this supplement to control aberrant galectin-3.

A typical high-dose is to take five grams of MCP powder three times a day for several months, and then reduce to five grams once a day. Some people will only take MCP during specific time periods, and then discontinue.

MCP should be taken away from meals, i.e. on an empty or almost empty stomach.

MCP is not yet recommended as a daily supplement for everyone to take. Certain individuals will take the full 15 gram/day dose for around one year, while others may try a moderate dose course (5 grams/day) for a period of 2-4 months.

If you have any questions on the scientific content of this article, please call a Life Extension^® Health Advisor at 1-866-864-3027.

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