Pectin improves physical function in older adults with frailty

In a randomized, double-blind trial of older adults with frailty, researchers tested whether four weeks of low-methoxy pectin supplementation could improve functional, psychological, and biological outcomes. Thirty-one participants enrolled, and 29 completed the trial, receiving either low-methoxy pectin or a placebo. Participants taking pectin improved their lower limb function on the 30-second sit-to-stand test, gaining an average of 2.07 ± 1.94 repetitions compared with 0.71 ± 2.27 in the placebo group. The intervention also reduced anxiety and depression scores and improved quality-of-life domains including physical functioning, vitality, mental health, and social functioning. Pectin did not significantly alter Timed Up and Go scores or circulating inflammatory biomarkers, but it increased the relative abundance of the gut bacterium Coprococcus comes.