PECTASOL C
Updated: 6 days ago
My Lyme doctor has trusted PectaSol-C for as long as I've known him, 13 years now. I've used it myself for at least 8 years, maybe closer to 10. I believe I first started it when I had my Lyme dental work done (removing my root canals and all the metal in my mouth), and my doctor chose it to help my recovery after that dental work. He has kept it in my protocol twice a day alongside chlorella. I also took yucca root and activated charcoal with it for a while, but I no longer need those. Here is what the research shows so far, in case you want to learn more. I suggest asking your doctor if it may be right for you too. Brand matters.
Short on time or energy? A quick-view graphic with the key points is at the bottom of this post.
Learn all about binders here:
Buy products on Fullscript for a 25% discount:
Links to every form of PectaSol (capsules, powders, stick packs and chewables) are under WHERE TO BUY near the bottom of this post.
MY EXPERIENCE
- While I was treating, my standard dose was 3 capsules twice a day.
- Years later, my doctor lowered it to 2 capsules twice a day. Since then he has changed my dose many times. Sometimes I stop it for a while, and sometimes I take only 1 or 2 capsules twice a day.
- Over the years I have used the chewables, the powder and the capsules. I mostly stick with the capsules.
- The powders and chewables were really nice when I had pill aversion.
- I love that there are lots of options.
- I take it with chlorella, my other binder.
- In the past I also used yucca root and activated charcoal.
WHAT IS PECTASOL-C?
- PectaSol-C is a modified citrus pectin, often called MCP. Citrus pectin is a fiber from the white inner part of citrus peels. It is what makes jam set.
- Regular pectin is a very large molecule, so it stays in the gut. MCP is broken down into much smaller pieces, so it may be absorbed from the gut into the blood.
- Dr. Isaac Eliaz, an integrative doctor who has worked on many of the MCP studies, says PectaSol-C is made with a careful enzyme process to reach this very small size.
WHY BRAND MATTERS
- Almost every human study in this post named PectaSol or PectaSol-C as the product used.
- Dr. Jill Carnahan wrote in 2025 that PectaSol is the only MCP she recommends, because the size and structure of the pectin decide whether it is absorbed and able to work.
- Dr. Eliaz feels other "modified" pectins on the market are not made to the same size, so they may not act the same way.
- A little history: trademark records show PectaSol was first sold in 1996, and the newer PectaSol-C form followed in 2008. The label says the "C" stands for cellular health, not vitamin C.
HEAVY METALS: WHAT THE STUDIES FOUND
These studies are small and older, but they are the main human research on MCP and metals.
- Pilot study (2006, healthy people): while taking MCP for 6 days, more arsenic and cadmium left the body in urine compared with their own starting levels.
- Pilot study (2008, children hospitalized with high lead): over 4 weeks on MCP, lead in the blood went down and more lead left in the urine. No side effects were seen.
- Five case reports (2007): toxic metal levels dropped by an average of 74% with MCP alone or MCP combined with alginate, with no side effects reported.
More on metals is in my posts:
GALECTIN-3: THE OTHER REASON DOCTORS USE IT
- Galectin-3 is a protein your body makes. It helps with healing, but when levels stay high, it is linked to ongoing inflammation and fibrosis (stiff, scar-like tissue) in organs like the heart, kidneys and liver.
- Galectin-3 is also used as a blood marker in heart research, and high levels in heart failure are linked to a harder course.
- MCP binds to galectin-3, which may calm some of its effects.
- Dr. Carnahan feels high galectin-3 may make detox harder and may help germs hide in biofilms, which can make chronic infections like Lyme harder to treat. Studies on galectin-3 in Lyme are still needed.
- Dr. Carnahan also checks galectin-3 with a simple blood test in her practice. Ask your doctor if it makes sense for you.
OTHER POSSIBLE BENEFITS: WHAT THE STUDIES FOUND
Most of this research is in animals or in the lab. Human studies are few and small, so please read these as early clues, not proof.
Inflammation
- Animal studies (2021 to 2026): in rats and mice, MCP lowered inflammation signals in the heart, liver, kidneys, lungs and brain in several different injury models. Human studies on inflammation are still needed.
Immune system
- Lab study (2011, older): when MCP was added to human blood samples in the lab, it switched on several kinds of immune cells, including natural killer (NK) cells.
- Animal study (2026): in rats given the chemotherapy drug cisplatin, MCP changed some immune cells in the spleen, but it did not protect the spleen from damage.
Heart
- Animal studies (2021 to 2025): in rats, MCP lowered signs of heart scarring or thickening after a heart attack (in obese or diabetic rats) and after heart strain from a stress drug.
Kidneys
- Animal studies (2024 and 2025): in diabetic mice, MCP improved kidney blood and urine tests and lowered signs of kidney damage, inflammation and scarring. Human studies are still needed.
Liver
- Animal study (2026): in mice fed a Western-style diet with sugary drinking water, MCP lowered galectin-3 in the liver, along with liver fat and scarring.
- Animal study (2026): in another group of mice with fatty liver, MCP lowered liver fat and inflammation, partly by helping a friendly gut bacterium grow.
- Animal study (2025): in rats, MCP helped protect the liver and lungs from damage caused by the drug methotrexate.
- Human studies are still needed.
Brain
- Animal studies (2022 and 2024): MCP lowered brain inflammation and helped memory in a rat dementia model, and it reduced stroke damage in mice. Human studies are still needed.
Cancer support
- Human study (2021 and 2023): 59 men whose prostate cancer PSA was rising again after treatment took PectaSol for 6 months. In 78%, the PSA held steady, dropped, or rose more slowly. The side effect reported was mild bloating, in about 1 in 5 men. After 18 months, 85% of the 39 men who kept going still showed this lasting response. There was no placebo group, so larger studies are needed.
- Cancer Research UK says there is not enough research yet to say MCP can treat cancer. If you have cancer, please ask your oncologist before adding it.
HOW TO TAKE IT
- Binders in general can grab onto some medicines and supplements, so they are usually taken on an empty stomach, away from food.
- My doctor had me space binders 2 to 3 hours away from supplements, herbals and medication. Ask your doctor what timing is right for you.
- Memorial Sloan Kettering advises not taking pectin with carotenoid (like beta-carotene) or vitamin E supplements, because it can lower their absorption, or with the cholesterol drug lovastatin, because it may work against it.
- Drink plenty of water with your binders.
PLEASE BE CAREFUL
- Side effects: some people get gas, bloating, loose stools or stomach cramps, mostly at larger amounts.
- Potassium on the labels: capsules 410 mg in 6 capsules; powders and stick packs 420 mg in 1 scoop or stick; chewables 210 mg in 2 tablets. ALWAYS ask your doctor before adding potassium.
- The chewables contain the sugar alcohols erythritol and sorbitol, in case you avoid those.
- In a 2024 rat study, giving MCP before the chemotherapy drug cisplatin increased oxidative stress in the heart and kidneys. This is one more reason to talk with your oncologist first if you are in cancer care.
- Always talk with your doctor before adding anything, especially if you are pregnant, nursing or take medication.
WHERE TO BUY
Buy here (EcoNugenics PectaSol capsules: PectaSol-C modified citrus pectin):
Buy here (EcoNugenics PectaSol Modified Citrus Pectin Unflavored Powder: PectaSol-C modified citrus pectin, nothing added):
Buy here (EcoNugenics PectaSol Berry Infusion Powder: PectaSol-C modified citrus pectin with natural berry flavor and stevia):
Buy here (EcoNugenics PectaSol Lime Infusion Powder, 184 g: PectaSol-C modified citrus pectin with natural lime flavor and stevia):
Buy here (EcoNugenics PectaSol Lime Infusion, 551 g: PectaSol-C modified citrus pectin with natural lime flavor and stevia):
Buy here (EcoNugenics PectaSol Lime Flavor Stick Packs: PectaSol-C modified citrus pectin with natural lime flavor and stevia):
Buy here (EcoNugenics PectaSol-C Chewable Tablets, Tangerine Flavor: PectaSol-C modified citrus pectin with natural tangerine flavor):
MORE RESEARCH WITH MIXED RESULTS
- Heart (human trial, 2021, Massachusetts General Hospital): 68 adults with high blood pressure and high galectin-3 took PectaSol-C or a placebo for 6 months. MCP did not change the scar tissue blood markers, heart ultrasound results or blood vessel function that were measured. More people stopped MCP early than placebo because of stomach side effects. A 2026 review calls the heart research mixed.
- Joints (human trial, 2019, older): 50 adults with knee osteoarthritis took MCP or a placebo for 12 weeks. Both groups improved about the same, and galectin-3 levels did not change.
- Absorption (animal study, 2026): when mice with tumors were given PectaSol-C by mouth, very little was absorbed (less than 0.01%) and it did not slow tumor growth. Given into a vein, it slowed tumor growth by about half. The mice given it by mouth also had blood test signs of possible liver and kidney strain. Animal results don't always apply to people, but it's another reason to check with your doctor.
RELATED POSTS
BINDERS
DETOX - POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
CHLORELLA
HEAVY METAL TOXICITY - POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
HEAVY METAL TOXICITY
DENTAL HEALTH
INFLAMMATION / PAIN
PAIN / INFLAMMATION - POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
CYTOKINE - POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
IMMUNE SYSTEM - POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
LIVER SUPPORT - POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
LIVER HEALTH and LYME
KIDNEY RELATED ISSUES
SOURCES
Modified citrus pectin orchestrates hepatic redox homeostasis through an Alistipes dispar-nicotinamide-sirtuin 1 axis to mitigate metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. Phytomedicine, September 2026.
Modified Citrus Pectin-Mediated Gal-3 Reduction Attenuates Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis in an Experimental Model. Cells, August 2026.
Expression, Localization and Actions of Galectin-3: Implications in the Pathophysiology and Therapy of Cardiovascular Disease. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, June 2026.
Modified citrus pectin modulates splenic immune responses and galectin expression following cisplatin treatment in Wistar rats. Journal of Molecular Histology, May 2026.
Galectin-3—A Multifunctional Molecule and a Key Player in Health and Disease. Molecules, May 2026.
Investigation of Antitumor Activity of Modified Citrus Pectin: Oral and Intravenous Administration Assessed via Molecular Imaging. Biomacromolecules, April 2026.
Galectin-3: The Hidden Driver of Inflammation, Fibrosis, and Chronic Disease. Dr. Jill Carnahan, February 2026.
Pleiotropic regulatory mechanisms and targeted therapeutic prospects of Galectin-3 in aging-related diseases. Neurotherapeutics, October 2025.
Modified Citrus Pectin Alleviates Diabetic Kidney Disease by Suppressing Pyroptosis in Renal Tubular Epithelial Cells via the Cx43-ERK1/2 Signaling Pathway. Chemistry and Biodiversity, October 2025.
The mechanisms underlying the cardiac effects of modified citrus pectin in obese rats with myocardial ischemia: Role of galectin-3. Clinica e Investigacion en Arteriosclerosis, July 2025.
Targeting Galectin-3 with PectaSol: A Natural Approach to Inflammation and Detox. Dr. Jill Carnahan, April 2025.
Protective effect of Galectin-3 inhibitor against cardiac remodelling in an isoprenaline-induced myocardial infarction in type 2 diabetes. Archives of Physiology and Biochemistry, February 2025.
Modified citrus pectin ameliorates methotrexate-induced hepatic and pulmonary toxicity: role of Nrf2, galectin-3/TLR-4/NF-κB/TNF-α and TGF-β signaling pathways. Frontiers in Pharmacology, January 2025.
Assessment of Modified Citrus Pectin's Effects on Dementia in the Scopolamine-Induced Alzheimer's Model in Adult Male Wistar Rats. Current Issues in Molecular Biology, December 2024.
Modified Citrus Pectin (MCP) Confers a Renoprotective Effect on Early-Stage Nephropathy in Type-2 Diabetic Mice. Chemistry and Biodiversity, July 2024.
Effect of modified citrus pectin on galectin-3 inhibition in cisplatin-induced cardiac and renal toxicity. Toxicology, May 2024.
Modified Citrus Pectin Treatment in Non-Metastatic Biochemically Relapsed Prostate Cancer: Long-Term Results of a Prospective Phase II Study. Nutrients, August 2023.
Modified citrus pectin (MCP). Cancer Research UK, last reviewed August 2022.
Modified Citrus Pectin Alleviates Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury by Inhibiting NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation via TLR4/NF-κB Signaling Pathway in Microglia. Journal of Inflammation Research, June 2022.
Modified Citrus Pectin Treatment in Non-Metastatic Biochemically Relapsed Prostate Cancer: Results of a Prospective Phase II Study. Nutrients, November 2021.
Modified citrus pectin prevents isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy associated with p38 signalling and TLR4/JAK/STAT3 pathway. Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy, November 2021.
Modified citrus pectin supplement. NCI Drug Dictionary, National Cancer Institute.
PECTASOL (first use in commerce 1996) and PECTASOL-C (first use in commerce 2008). United States Patent and Trademark Office records.
Modified Citrus Pectin. Dr. Isaac Eliaz.
Older sources, still worth reading:
Galectin-3 Inhibition With Modified Citrus Pectin in Hypertension. JACC: Basic to Translational Science, January 2021.
Pectin. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, About Herbs, last updated February 2021.
Blocking extracellular Galectin-3 in patients with osteoarthritis. Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, November 2019.
Pleiotropic Effects of Modified Citrus Pectin. Dr. Isaac Eliaz and Dr. Avraham Raz. Nutrients, November 2019.
Activation of human T-helper/inducer cell, T-cytotoxic cell, B-cell, and natural killer (NK)-cells and induction of natural killer cell activity against K562 chronic myeloid leukemia cells with modified citrus pectin. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, August 2011.
The role of modified citrus pectin as an effective chelator of lead in children hospitalized with toxic lead levels. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, July-August 2008.
Integrative medicine and the role of modified citrus pectin/alginates in heavy metal chelation and detoxification - five case reports. Forschende Komplementarmedizin, December 2007.
The effect of modified citrus pectin on urinary excretion of toxic elements. Phytotherapy Research, October 2006.
Disclaimer: Rise Above Lyme makes no claims about any possible benefit of using any product mentioned within this site. Always consult with your doctor before adding anything. The information shared is based on personal experience, years of accumulated researched resources from Lyme Literate doctors and polls conducted within Lyme groups from actual patient experience using these solution ideas.
Comments