Apple pectin
Also called pectin, apple fiber, apple fibre.
Best grade B across 5 graded outcomes Other Last checked
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The short answer
From 11 sourcesApple pectin is a soluble fibre. In crossover trials, 15 g a day of high-esterified apple or citrus pectin lowered LDL cholesterol 7 to 10%, in line with other soluble fibres. Two Chinese trials of 24 g a day eased slow-transit constipation and diarrhoea-type IBS. Typical capsules hold about 1.4 g, far below studied amounts.
Quick pick
From a partner brand · paid link
NOW Foods Apple Pectin, 700 mg, 120 veg capsules
from HerbsPro
Label: 2 capsules: 1.4 g apple pectin powder (1 g dietary fibre).
Best for trying one bottle: $13.73 one-time (checked Oct 15, 2026).
Every graded outcome on this page
5 rows · line = participants- BGrade BDiarrhoea during tube feeding in intensive careTube-feeding diarrhoean 1,405
- CGrade CFlushing from high-dose niacinNiacin flushn 100
- CGrade CDiarrhoea-type IBS symptomsIBSn 87
- CGrade CColon transit and constipation symptomsConstipationn 80
- DGrade DAcute diarrhoea in young childrenDiarrhoean 255
- 2 more graded outcomes, in the evidence chapter
Key facts
- What it is
- A soluble fibre from apple; cholesterol effects depend on its degree of esterification and molecular weight3
- Cholesterol
- 15 g/day of high-esterified (DE-70) apple or citrus pectin lowered LDL 7 to 10% vs cellulose over 4 weeks; low-esterified types did less3
- Soluble fibre in general
- Each gram of soluble fibre lowered LDL by about 0.057 mmol/L in a 67-trial meta-analysis; pectin did not differ from oat or psyllium2
What it is
Apple pectin is a soluble fibre extracted from apples, sold as powder or capsules.
Forms
Form
| Form | Elemental % | Absorption (human data) | GI tolerance | Studied for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple pectin powder or capsules | Varies3Not applicable (a fibre) | A soluble fibre; in trials, 24 g/day raised faecal bifidobacteria. High-esterified, high-molecular-weight pectins lowered LDL more than low-esterified types.345 | No significant adverse effects were reported at 24 g/day for 4 to 6 weeks.45 | Cholesterol (6 to 15 g/day), constipation and IBS (24 g/day) |
What the human research says
Human trials only, one row per outcome. The form line shows what each trial actually tested. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.
Trial map
5 graded outcomes, largest study first5 graded outcomes: 4 improved, 1 mixed. The largest, a 2025 meta-analysis of 1,405 people on diarrhoea during tube feeding in intensive care, found an improvement.
1Diarrhoea during tube feeding in intensive care
Improved · Grade B · Meta-analysis, 1,405 people, 2025
Adult intensive-care patients on enteral (tube) nutrition, 12 trials
Dose, result and source| Outcome | Found | People | Study | Who was studied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diarrhoea during tube feeding in intensive care | Improved | 1,405 | Grade B · Meta-analysis, 2025 | Adult intensive-care patients on enteral (tube) nutrition, 12 trials |
| Acute diarrhoea in young children | Improved | 255 | Grade D · RCT, 2006 | Children aged 6 months to 6 years with acute diarrhoea, treated as outpatients (Germany) |
| Flushing from high-dose niacin | Mixed | 100 | Grade C · RCT, 2013 | Niacin-naive adults given one 1,000 mg dose of extended-release niacin (25 per group) |
| Diarrhoea-type IBS symptoms | Improved | 87 | Grade C · RCT, 2015 | Adults with diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (China) |
| Colon transit and constipation symptoms | Improved | 80 | Grade C · RCT, 2014 | Adults with slow-transit constipation (China) |
Every graded row
5 rowsShowing 5 of 5 outcomes. Human trials only.
BGrade BDiarrhoea during tube feeding in intensive careTube-feeding diarrhoeaDiarrhoea OR 0.40Meta-analysis · 12 studies
n 1,405 · 2025
Improved Pectin-supplemented feeding lowered the odds of diarrhoea (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.30–0.54), but not in patients taking proton-pump inhibitors. Infectious complications (OR 0.43), vomiting, feeding intolerance and ICU stay (−3.59 days) were also lower; mortality did not change (OR 0.86).
- Design
- Meta-analysis, 12 studies, n = 1,405, 2025
- Population
- Adult intensive-care patients on enteral (tube) nutrition, 12 trials
- Form
- Pectin added to enteral nutrition (pectin source not stated in the abstract)
- Dose
- Not stated in the abstract
- Duration
- During the intensive-care stay (varied by trial)
- Source
- Reference 10 · PubMed 40315989 (opens PubMed)
CGrade CFlushing from high-dose niacinNiacin flushShorter flushingRCT
n 100 · 2013
Mixed Apple pectin and aspirin each significantly shortened flushing versus placebo; other flushing measures improved non-significantly.
- Design
- RCT, n = 100, 2013
- Population
- Niacin-naive adults given one 1,000 mg dose of extended-release niacin (25 per group)
- Form
- Encapsulated apple pectin
- Dose
- Pre-treatment dose not stated in the abstract (groups: pectin, pectin + aspirin, aspirin, placebo)
- Duration
- Single dose; 6 hours of follow-up
- Source
- Reference 6 · PubMed 23415433 (opens PubMed)
CGrade CDiarrhoea-type IBS symptomsIBSFewer IBS symptomsRCT
n 87 · 2015
Improved Composite symptom scores, Bristol stool scores and IBS quality of life improved more than with placebo (p < 0.05); faecal bifidobacteria rose. No significant adverse effects.
- Design
- RCT, n = 87, 2015
- Population
- Adults with diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (China)
- Form
- Pectin powder
- Dose
- 24 g/day (vs placebo)
- Duration
- 6 weeks
- Source
- Reference 5 · PubMed 25809332 (opens PubMed)
CGrade CColon transit and constipation symptomsConstipationFaster transitRCT
n 80 · 2014
Improved Colonic transit time fell to 60.2 hours vs 79.4 hours with placebo (p < 0.01) and constipation scores improved; bifidobacteria and lactobacilli rose. No significant adverse effects.
- Design
- RCT, n = 80, 2014
- Population
- Adults with slow-transit constipation (China)
- Form
- Pectin (source not stated in the abstract)
- Dose
- 24 g/day (vs maltodextrin)
- Duration
- 4 weeks
- Source
- Reference 4 · PubMed 25623312 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DAcute diarrhoea in young childrenDiarrhoeaFewer stoolsRCT
n 255 · 2006
Improved Stool frequency fell significantly more than with placebo; adverse effects were similar to placebo.
- Design
- RCT, n = 255, 2006
- Population
- Children aged 6 months to 6 years with acute diarrhoea, treated as outpatients (Germany)
- Form
- Apple pectin-chamomile extract preparation (Diarrhoesan) plus oral rehydration
- Dose
- Not stated in the abstract
- Duration
- Course of the illness
- Source
- Reference 7 · PubMed 16889120 (opens PubMed)
What the numbers add up to
Each point is worked out from the data and the sources numbered on this page, with the arithmetic shown under it. It adds no new data and is not medical advice.
Pectin type matters for cholesterol
In the crossover trials, high-esterified apple and citrus pectin lowered LDL 7 to 10%, while low-esterified and low-molecular-weight pectins did less. Cargill funded the trials.3
A small cholesterol effect
Across 67 fibre trials, each gram of soluble fibre lowered LDL by about 0.057 mmol/L, and pectin performed like oat and psyllium fibre, so a few grams a day bring only a small change.2
Studied doses
Doses used in research, shown against the official limits. They describe the studies, not a recommendation for you.
Studied doses in research, not advice. These are amounts used in research, not personal advice. Your clinician or pharmacist can say what fits you.
Doses studied in human trials
Interactions and safety
Published interactions only: each row cites a source. No row means none was found in our sources, not that a combination is safe.
What Apple pectin meets
2 cited rows 1 tested togetherMedicines 2
Supplements and foods 1
- Reference summary
- Tested together in a graded trial
Choose a medicine or supplement above to read its cited rows here.
Also cited: 1 tested together
Digoxin
ReviewReference summary
Digoxin: A review of digoxin interactions lists pectin, as used in kaolin-pectin antidiarrhoeals, among agents that reduce digoxin absorption.
Source 9, Clin Pharmacokinet (1988)
Lovastatin
ReviewReference summary
Lovastatin: A 2010 review of diet-statin interactions reports that pectin (or oat bran) eaten together with lovastatin reduces absorption of the drug.
Source 8, Nutr Hosp (2010)
ChamomileChamomile page
Tested together
Acute diarrhoea in young children. Graded on the Apple pectin page; tested together is not a claim that they work better together.
Interactions
2 agents| Agent | What the source says | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Medicines2 | ||
| Lovastatin | A 2010 review of diet-statin interactions reports that pectin (or oat bran) eaten together with lovastatin reduces absorption of the drug.8 | Review |
| Digoxin | A review of digoxin interactions lists pectin, as used in kaolin-pectin antidiarrhoeals, among agents that reduce digoxin absorption.9 | Review |
Check with what you take
Kept on this device onlyAdd what you take. We list every interaction our evidence profiles cite between Apple pectin and your picks, and between your picks.
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Add a supplement or medicine you take to check it against Apple pectin.
Starting from one medicine? The interaction checker rates how serious each pair is, on a curated list of 19 entries for 11 medicines. This cabinet has no severity rating: it lists every interaction row our supplement pages cite.
Who should be careful
2 groups- Pregnancy, breastfeeding and children
- NCCIH notes that many dietary supplements have not been tested in pregnant women, nursing mothers or children. We found no pectin supplement trial in pregnancy or breastfeeding, and LactMed and LiverTox have no pectin entry.1
- Medicines and surgery
- NCCIH advises that supplements may interact with medications or pose risks before surgery, and to tell your health care providers about everything you use.1
How to read the label
What to check on the Supplement Facts panel.
How to read the label
1 checksWhere to buy Apple pectin
Products from brands we partner with that contain Apple pectin. Check the amount per serving against the doses studied above, and the label for other ingredients.
Apple pectin products from partner brands
1 product Paid links · we earn a commission- Quick pickHerbsProNOW Foods Apple Pectin, 700 mg, 120 veg capsules
2 capsules: 1.4 g apple pectin powder (1 g dietary fibre)
$13.73one-timeChecked Oct 15, 2026
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to common questions; the numbers link to the sources below.
Common questions
6 answersDoes apple pectin lower cholesterol?
Does apple pectin help constipation?
Can apple pectin reduce niacin flushing?
In one trial of 100 adults, apple pectin taken before a 1,000 mg niacin dose shortened flushing, but other flushing measures were not significantly better.6
What are the side effects of apple pectin?
Is apple pectin the same as modified citrus pectin?
No. Modified citrus pectin is chemically altered and studied separately; the cholesterol trials here used ordinary apple and citrus pectins.3
Sources
11 sources: trial abstracts, NIH fact sheets and reference databases. Numbers in the text link here.
Sources cited on this page
11 sources- 1Using Dietary Supplements WiselyFact sheet National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), 2019 · nccih.nih.gov
- 2Cholesterol-lowering effects of dietary fiber: a meta-analysis.Meta-analysis Am J Clin Nutr, 1999 · PMID 9925120
- 3Cholesterol-lowering properties of different pectin types in mildly hyper-cholesterolemic men and women.Crossover RCT Eur J Clin Nutr, 2012 · PMID 22190137
- 4[Clinical benefits after soluble dietary fiber supplementation: a randomized clinical trial in adults with slow-transit constipation].RCT Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi, 2014 · PMID 25623312
- 5[Efficacy of pectin in the treatment of diarrhea predominant irritable bowel syndrome].RCT Zhonghua Wei Chang Wai Ke Za Zhi, 2015 · PMID 25809332
- 6Apple pectin for the reduction of niacin-induced flushing.RCT J Clin Lipidol, 2013 · PMID 23415433
- 7Double-blind, randomized evaluation of clinical efficacy and tolerability of an apple pectin-chamomile extract in children with unspecific diarrhea.RCT Arzneimittelforschung, 2006 · PMID 16889120
- 8Major diet-drug interactions affecting the kinetic characteristics and hypolipidaemic properties of statins.Review Nutr Hosp, 2010 · PMID 20449528
- 9Pharmacokinetic interactions with digoxin.Review Clin Pharmacokinet, 1988 · PMID 3056649
- 10Use of pectin-supplemented enteral nutrition in intensive care: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Meta-analysis Clin Nutr ESPEN, 2025 · PMID 40315989
- 11The Effect of Fiber Supplementation on Chronic Constipation in Adults: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.Meta-analysis Am J Clin Nutr, 2022 · PMID 35816465
What changed
Every dated change to this page: what changed, who made it and why.
Change log
3 entries| Date | Change | Who and why |
|---|---|---|
| evidence, who should avoid, FAQ, questions, related | Re-searched PubMed for pectin meta-analyses and RCTs to 2026. Added the 2025 meta-analysis of pectin in intensive-care tube feeding (PMID 40315989; 12 trials, 1,405 patients) as a supervised clinical-use row. Added the 2022 fibre-for-constipation meta-analysis (PMID 35816465; full text PMC9535527 shows its only pectin trial is the 2014 study already in the table) to the constipation row and FAQ, and a side-effects FAQ. No newer apple-pectin cholesterol trial or meta-analysis found; the 2012 crossover abstract still gives no participant numbers, so cholesterol stays in key facts. No LactMed or LiverTox entry for pectin (checked), noted in the pregnancy line; interactions unchanged (lovastatin, digoxin). Added questions this page answers and the gut goal-hub link. | Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: A–Z audit against docs/supplements/AUDIT-STANDARD.md |
| Interactions | Added 2 interaction entries (Lovastatin; Digoxin) from peer-reviewed reviews; each PubMed abstract or full text was read for the cited statement. | Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: Update |
| all | Initial editorial evidence review. Every PMID checked against NCBI E-utilities esummary (title, year, journal; none retracted) and each cited abstract read; every number comes from the abstracts. Funding: the 2012 pectin crossover trials were funded by Cargill (journal page); the other abstracts name no funder. The 2012 abstract does not give participant numbers, so those trials appear in key facts and insights rather than as an evidence row. Safety rows use NCCIH's general supplement guidance only; no pectin page exists on our approved safety sources. Where to buy: NOW Foods Apple Pectin 700 mg (label checked 2026-10-15). | Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: new page |
Supplement & Nutrient Encyclopedia. Educational information only; it is not medical advice and does not replace a clinician. Dietary supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Statements about supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA.