Apple Pectin May Significantly Reduce Caesium Radiation in Children

This study from Belarus demonstrates that apple pectin may be a powerful detox agent for radioactive caesium in children, the most prevalent radioactive element in Fukushima.

by Heidi Stevenson

2 August 2011

Apples are one of the standouts in foods with medicinal properties. At least one study has shown that apple pectin may significantly reduce the caesium-137 load in children exposed to its radioactivite isotope.

The study, done by a Belarus group, the Institute of Radiation Safety, indicates that children given a pectin powder for 16 days excreted as much as 39% of their caesium-137 ¹³⁷Cs) load.

Caesium-137 is a particularly dangerous radioactive element that collects in endocrine glands, the pancreas, the thymus, and the heart. Its radioactive half life is 30 years. Not only does it emit gamma rays, it also emits beta rays, which are significantly more toxic to cells. The fact that beta emanations can travel only short distances is completely negated by cesium's tendency to be lodged in such critical organs.

The study, published in the medical journal, Swiss Medical Weekly, is entitled "Relationship between caesium (¹³⁷Cs)load, cardiovascular symptoms, and source of food in 'Chernobyl' children—preliminary observations after intake of oral apple pectin." The authors describe the problems faced by children subjected to Chernobyl's radiation:

Recurrent respiratory and gastrointestinal infections as well as endocrine disorders and cataracts are common. Other frequent findings include increased fatigue or apathy and chest pain associated with cardiovascular symptoms, such as unstable blood pressure or arterial hypertension. Abnormal electrocardiograms (ECGs) showing sinus arrhythmia, repolarisation, and conduction abnormalities appear to be most frequent among children with high ¹³⁷Cs loads.

Children contaminated with ¹³⁷Cs suffer tremendously. However, the authors of this study found that the pectin from apples is remarkably effective in helping eliminate the radioactive poison.

Potential Study Flaws

Before continuing, I want to point out the flaws in this study. They are significant, though the data appears to be solid. There was no placebo control group, though in this instance, when the normal ¹³⁷Cs excretion rate is known, that shouldn't pose too great a problem. The more significant concern is that the lead author is involved with the company that makes the particular pectin product used in the trial. Funding was independently provided by the Belarus Federal Ministry of Environment and the resulting paper was peer reviewed. Nonetheless, these issues should be taken into account.

The Study

The children's average age was 12 years, with a range of 7 two 17 years, and they were approximately equal male and female. A total of 94 children were involved, of whom 33 were defined as having low concentrations of ¹³⁷Cs, 31 with moderate concentrations, and 30 with high concentrations. All the children were school children from radiation-contaminated areas of the Gomel Province of Belarus.

Eating habits and sources of food were recorded throughout the study, as that could impact the results. Health assessments were done at the beginning and end of the study, and the researchers were blinded as to each child's ¹³⁷Cs load. Each child's subjective complaints were noted at the beginning and end of the study.

It was noted that the baseline ¹³⁷Cs load of each child was largely explainable by the sources of their food. Children whose food had been privately sourced had been better able to naturally detox ¹³⁷Cs. (Apparently, the term "privately sourced" is a clear concept to the Belarus authors. For those in other areas of the world, it isn't. My own take on it is that non-privately sourced foods are those provided by government agencies—but I can't be certain.)

Group 1, categorized as having low concentrations of ¹³⁷Cs, was not given pectin, but the other two groups were given one teaspoon a day. According to the report, all received high quality diets.

Study Results

Subjective Complaints

At the beginning, common subjective complaints included pain in the region of the heart, headache, weakness, irritability, and nose bleeds. 39% of the children with moderate concentrations of ¹³⁷Cs complained of such problems, and 63% of those with high concentrations did.

Furthermore, 30% of Group 3 also complained of constant fatigue and depression.

At the end of the study, no children reported any subjective complaints.

Cardiovascular Symptoms

Abnormal heart sounds were a major problem in these children. At the beginning, they were noted in 48% of Group 1, 84% of Group 2, and 90% of Group 3. Also, hyper- and hypotension were noted. Children with hypertension 20 mm Hg over normal were defined as hypertensive. They included 9% of Group 1, 26% of Group 2, and 50% of Group 3. Sadly, none of these symptoms changed over the course of the study.

Electrocardiogram (ECG) Results

At the beginning of the study, electrocardiograms discovered pathological findings in 52% of Group 1, 84% of Group 2, and 93% of Group 3. The ECG results are questionable, as 9 children refused the trial-ending ECG without explanation. Although the results given by the study appear to show that pectin benefitted Groups 2 and 3, there is little point in reviewing them, since the missing ending ECG's could easily have skewed them beyond relevance.

Reduction in ¹³⁷Cs Loads

Children in Group 2 had an average reduction of 39% in ¹³⁷Cs Loads, and children in Group 3 had an average reduction of 28%. ¹³⁷Cs Loads were measured in Becquerels per kilogram (Bq/kg) of weight. The results are picture below:

Reduction in Symptoms

It's interesting to note that subjective symptoms were reduced dramatically, while symptoms elicited from tests were not. (ECG results were inconclusive.) Because the study was brief—only 16 days—we don't know if the test results may have improved with time.

However, what seems to be clearly implied is that the sooner detoxification begins, the better the results. The lower the concentration of ¹³⁷Cs, the greater the benefit of ¹³⁷Cs detox. If heart damage, as indicated by the study's tests, is unchanged by detoxing, then waiting is simply not a reasonable option. The sooner children contaminated by ¹³⁷Cs are treated, the less their health will be damaged.

Perhaps the children of Fukushima should be receiving apple pectin. The worst outcome would be no benefit, as the likelihood of any adverse effects are remote.

The results of this Belarus study should be followed up—and I cannot imagine many parents of Japan's Fukushima region refusing to be part of an apple pectin trial!

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