The Effects of Pectin on the Gastrointestinal Tract in Humans

The presented article discusses the complex effect of pectins, especially of citrus origin, on functional and biological processes in the body. The main attention is paid to their structural characteristics, mechanisms of interaction with cells of innate immunity and their potential influence on the development and regulation of inflammatory bowel diseases. The role of methylesterification of pectins in their biological activity is discussed. Reducing the degree of methyl esterification improves the bioavailability of pectins and their interaction with cellular receptors such as Toll-like and galectin-3, which is important for their anti-inflammatory and anti-adhesive properties. Structural modifications of pectins have been shown to directly affect their ability to modulate immune responses and interact with the gut microbiota, which helps to strengthen the intestinal barrier and reduce inflammation. Promising results have been shown by experiments using pectins in diets aimed at treating inflammatory bowel diseases such as non-specific ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Despite the anti-inflammatory effects found, the full mechanism of action of pectins and their effect on different types of inflammatory cells, such as Th17 and Th1, requires further investigation