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Dietary supplement

Heavy Metal Detox Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Jarrow Formulas

Heavy Metal Detox label
See full label image
Capsule Category: Other Combinations
Most serious interaction: Moderate
Clinical methodology reviewed by · Updated Sep 23, 2026 · Label data from the NIH DSLD
What is this page for?

First and foremost: checking Heavy Metal Detox against your medications. The heart of this page is the interaction checker and the full interaction report — how this product’s ingredients may interact with prescription and over-the-counter medicines you may be taking.

Around that, we add a pharmacist’s high-level view of the product as a whole — what’s inside, the evidence for its stated use, how transparent the label is, and what safety data exists — so you can see the full picture in one place. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases and the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist — not medical advice — and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy

The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Heavy Metal Detox is a dietary supplement by Jarrow Formulas with 2 active ingredients. Its ingredients are commonly taken for heartburn and acid reflux (in combination products), lowering cholesterol, digestive health and feeling full.Based on those ingredients, 2,028 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Alginate, modified Citrus Pectin. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

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Check Your Meds Against Heavy Metal Detox by Jarrow Formulas

Ask about any prescription or over-the-counter medication and we check it for interactions with Heavy Metal Detox by Jarrow Formulas — and tell you which ingredient is responsible.

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HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Heavy Metal Detox by Jarrow Formulas

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

Generated from HelloPharmacist’s pharmacist-curated databases and editorial rules · Last generated Aug 6, 2026

What’s inside

Low disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Low

Most active ingredients don't disclose an individual amount — you can't tell how much of each you're getting.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 0 of its 2 active ingredients.
  • “PectaClear Chelation Complex” is a proprietary blend — the label gives one combined amount (750 mg) without saying how much of each component you get.

This capsule contains two active ingredients. Alginate is a compound derived from brown seaweed that forms a gel-like substance in your digestive tract.

Modified citrus pectin is a soluble fiber extracted from citrus peel that works similarly. The product also contains inactive ingredients — cellulose, magnesium stearate, and silicon dioxide — which are fillers and binders that help form and preserve the capsule.

Does it work?

Not established
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Not established

The graded evidence we hold for these ingredients covers different conditions than the ones this product is marketed for, so there's no established rating for its stated use.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: systemic chelation and removal of heavy metals.
  • We looked for evidence on: Mercury toxicity, Radiation exposure, Lead toxicity, Cadmium exposure, Heavy metal poisoning.
  • The closest evidence on file: Pectin is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Radiation exposure (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: Pectin is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Mercury toxicity.

Modified citrus pectin has possibly effective evidence for high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia), meaning some research suggests it may help, but the evidence isn't conclusive. For prediabetes and radiation exposure, there isn't enough reliable evidence to rate whether it works.

The evidence base for alginate's effectiveness isn't documented in our data.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Algin Pectin

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 1 of the 2 matched ingredients.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 2 of 2.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 2 of 2.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Modified citrus pectin from food and typical supplement doses is generally well tolerated. The most common side effects are digestive — diarrhea, gas, loose stools, and mild cramps.

Allergic reactions, including severe ones (anaphylaxis), are rare but possible in people sensitive to pectin. Alginate has limited safety data at supplement levels, so talk with your doctor before using it.

For pregnancy and breastfeeding, the data for pectin isn't detailed enough to give you a clear yes or no — check with your doctor or pharmacist for personalized advice. Safety data isn't on file for alginate during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Algin Pectin

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 2 of the 2 matched ingredients can interact with medications — Algin, Pectin.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: heart-rhythm medications.
  • For scale: 2,029 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Before taking this product, check with your doctor or pharmacist if you take digoxin (Lanoxin) for your heart, lovastatin (Mevacor) for cholesterol, or tetracycline antibiotics like doxycycline — these are the documented Moderate-severity concerns. Modified citrus pectin may also affect oral medications more broadly, rated as Minor.

If you take any prescription medications, run them through the checker on this page.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFormula with limited ingredient disclosure with no established evidence rating for its marketed use. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Heavy Metal Detox may be worth considering if you're interested in fiber-based approaches to wellness and your doctor agrees. However, if you take digoxin, lovastatin, or tetracycline antibiotics, you'll need to clear this product with your doctor or pharmacist first — it can reduce how well these medications work.

Talk it over with your own healthcare provider before you start.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 2 of 2 active ingredients matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Sep 25, 2015.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Heavy Metal Detox, straight from the product label.

Brand Jarrow Formulas
Barcode (UPC) 790011290353
Net contents 90 Vegetarian Capsule(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Sep 25, 2015
DSLD ID 50705
Product type Other Combinations
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Vegan, Vegetarian, Adult (18 - 50 Years), Gluten Free, Dairy Free
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Heavy Metal Detox by Jarrow Formulas, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
1 Capsule(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 Capsule(s)
Servings per container
90
UPC/BARCODE
790011290353
IngredientAmount% DV
Alginate0 NP--
modified Citrus Pectin0 NP--
PectaClear Chelation Complex750 mg--

Other ingredients: Cellulose, Magnesium Stearate, Silicon Dioxide, Capsule

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
Brand IP Statement(s)

Superior Nutrition and Formulation

PectaClear modified citrus pectin (MCP) has a unique chemical structure and optimized molecular weight that allows for maximized absorption, systemic chelation of toxic metals, and facilitation of their removal.* PectaClear modified alginate complements MCP by chelating toxic metals within the digestive tract and preventing their reabsorption.

PectaClear is a registered trademark of EcoNugenics, Inc., and is protected by U.S. Patent # 6,462,029.

2014 Jarrow FORMULAS

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

USAGE: Take 1 capsule 1 to 3 times per day on an empty stomach or as directed by your qualified health care professional. For long term maintenance, take 1 capsule twice a day.

Precautions

NOTE: If you have a medical condition, are pregnant, lactating, trying to conceive, under the age of 18, or taking medications, consult your health care practitioner before using this product.

NOTE: If you have a medical condition, are pregnant, lactating, trying to conceive, under the age of 18, or taking medications, consult your health care practitioner before using this product.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Formula

Heavy Metal Detox contains PectaClear Chelation Complex, a complex of modified polyuronide dietary fibers (citrus pectin and alginate) that have been specifically designed to tightly bind heavy metals and increase their clearance from the body while having a reduced affinity for most nutritionally essential elements.*

Formulation

Suitable for vegetarians/vegans.

No wheat, no gluten, no soybeans, no dairy, no egg, no fish/shellfish, no peanuts/tree nuts.

FDA Disclaimer Statement

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

General Statements

For Daily Support of Heavy Metal Detoxification*

Naturally occurring lead is chemically bound within the chelation complex.

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

Seals/Symbols

v vegan

General

08514METAL PROD # 129035

Is this label outdated? Report a formula or label change and our pharmacy team will review it.

See for yourself

Heavy Metal Detox by Jarrow Formulas label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

Heavy Metal Detox label

Label images are published by the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database for the version of this product on file. Always read your actual product label.

View the full label (PDF)
What’s inside

The Ingredients in Heavy Metal Detox by Jarrow Formulas

These are the 2 active ingredients this product is made of. Select any to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 Capsule(s) Dosage formCapsule Servings per container90 Amounts shown are per serving.

Most supplement products combine several ingredients, and a medication can interact with the product through any one of them. Each ingredient below shows whether it has known drug interactions.

PectaClear Chelation Complex

750 mg per serving

Other (inactive) ingredients: Cellulose, Magnesium Stearate, Silicon Dioxide, Capsule. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Heavy Metal Detox by Jarrow Formulas Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Heavy Metal Detox?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

 Go to the checker
2,028Drugs
23 Moderate 2,005 Minor

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Alginate 2,022
modified Citrus Pectin 23

Individual Drug Interactions

The ingredients in Heavy Metal Detox interact with 2,028 drugs. Click any drug to see the details.

2 of the 2 ingredients in Heavy Metal Detox interact with drugs. Each result below shows which ingredient is responsible. Alginate modified Citrus Pectin

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Heavy Metal Detox with known interactions, here are the types of medications they can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Alginate1 drug type · 2,022 drugs

Oral Drugs

Theoretically, algin can alter the absorption of oral drugs. Laboratory research shows that algin, when consumed as part of the diet or used as a thickening agent in infant formula, reduces the absorption of certain minerals. Also, algin has been used as a tablet binder and disintegrant to enhance drug bioavailability. To avoid changes in absorption, take algin 30-60 minutes after oral medications.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Alginate full monograph & interactions

modified Citrus Pectin3 drug types · 23 drugs

Digoxin (Lanoxin)

Theoretically, pectin might reduce the absorption of digoxin, potentially decreasing its effectiveness.
A small clinical study shows that taking digoxin with a kaolin-pectin suspension reduces the absorption of digoxin by about 62%. It is unclear if these effects are due to pectin, kaolin, or the combination.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
Lovastatin (Mevacor)

Theoretically, pectin might reduce the absorption of lovastatin, potentially decreasing its effectiveness.
Case reports suggest that concomitant use of pectin and lovastatin might reduce the cholesterol-lowering effect of lovastatin, possibly due to reduced intestinal absorption of lovastatin.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Tetracycline Antibiotics

Theoretically, pectin might reduce the absorption of tetracycline antibiotics, potentially decreasing their effectiveness.
A small clinical study shows that taking tetracycline with bismuth subsalicylate in a kaolin-pectin suspension reduces the absorption of tetracycline by about 34%. It is unclear if these effects are due to pectin, kaolin, bismuth subsalicylate, or the combination.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
modified Citrus Pectin full monograph & interactions
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Heavy Metal Detox, from the product label.

Jarrow Formulas

See all Jarrow Formulas products
Name
Jarrow Formulas
Street Address
P.O. Box 35994
City
Los Angeles
State
CA
ZipCode
90035-4317
Web Address
www.Jarrow.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Heavy Metal Detox by Jarrow Formulas: Common Questions

Does Heavy Metal Detox by Jarrow Formulas interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Heavy Metal Detox has a known interaction with 2,028 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Heavy Metal Detox contains 2 active ingredients, and an interaction can come from any of them. We check every ingredient, combine the results into one list per medication, and show which ingredient and mechanism is responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
What does alginate do in this product?
Alginate is a fiber from brown seaweed that forms a gel-like substance in your digestive tract. The facts don't specify its intended role in this Heavy Metal Detox formula, but alginate is used in some wellness products for its fiber properties.
Is modified citrus pectin actually effective for detox?
The evidence we have is for high cholesterol — pectin is possibly effective there. For detox or heavy metal removal, there isn't enough reliable evidence in our data to say whether it works.
What are the side effects?
Modified citrus pectin most commonly causes digestive upset — diarrhea, gas, loose stools, and mild cramps. Allergic reactions, including severe ones, are rare but possible in people sensitive to pectin. Alginate's adverse effect profile isn't detailed in our data.
Can I take this if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
For modified citrus pectin, the data suggests it's possibly safe, but concentrated supplements during pregnancy and breastfeeding haven't been well studied — talk with your doctor or pharmacist for personalized advice. We don't have safety information on file for alginate during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Why does this interact with so many medications?
The total count reflects interactions across both ingredients combined. Alginate theoretically can alter how your gut absorbs oral drugs in general (rated Minor), while pectin specifically reduces absorption of certain medications like digoxin, lovastatin, and tetracycline antibiotics (rated Moderate).

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

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Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Heavy Metal Detox label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind Heavy Metal Detox’s Ingredients

Every ingredient we hold a full HelloPharmacist monograph for — uses, evidence, safety, and the complete interaction list.

Herb & supplement monograph

Algin

Interacts with 2,022 drugs

Algin (alginate) is a fiber-like substance from brown seaweed that is widely used as a thickener, gel, and binder in foods and medicines. Its best-known medical use is in heartburn products,...

Read the full Algin monograph → Herb & supplement monograph

Pectin

Interacts with 23 drugs

Pectin is a natural soluble fiber found in fruits like apples and citrus, and it is widely used in foods and as a fiber supplement. It may modestly help with cholesterol, blood sugar, and di...

Read the full Pectin monograph →
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Heavy Metal Detox's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 14 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Algin 3 references
  1. Harmuth-Hoene, A. E. and Schelenz, R. Effect of dietary fiber on mineral absorption in growing rats. J Nutr 1980;110(9):1774-1784. PubMed
  2. Bosscher D, Van Caillie-Bertrand M, Deelstra H. Effect of thickening agents, based on soluble dietary fiber, on the availability of calcium, iron, and zinc from infant formulas. Nutrition. 2001;17(7-8):614-8. PubMed
  3. Beneke CE, Viljoen AM, Hamman JH. Polymeric plant-derived excipients in drug delivery. Molecules. 2009;14(7):2602-20. PubMed

See these in context on the Algin monograph →

Pectin 11 references
  1. Jaakkola MS, et al. Asthma caused by occupational exposure to pectin. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1997;100:575-6. PubMed
  2. Westphal W, et al. [Exogenous allergic asthma following pectin exposure-a new occupational allergen]. Pneumologie 1990;44(Suppl 1):337-8.
  3. Baldwin JL, et al. Pectin-induced occupational asthma. Chest 1993;104:1936-7. PubMed
  4. Cohen AJ, Forse MS, Tarlo SM. Occupational asthma caused by pectin inhalation during the manufacture of jam. Chest 1993;103:309-11.
  5. Kraut A, et al. Christmas candy maker's asthma. IgG4-mediated pectin allergy. Chest 1992;102:1605-7. PubMed
  6. Richter WO, Jacob BG, Schwandt P. Interaction between fibre and lovastatin. Lancet 1991;338:706.
  7. Albert KS, Ayres JW, DiSanto AR, et al. Influence of kaolin-pectin suspension on digoxin bioavailability. J Pharm Sci 1978;67:1582-6. PubMed
  8. Albert KS, Welch RD, DeSante KA, et al. Decreased tetracycline bioavailability caused by a bismuth subsalicylate antidiarrheal mixture. J Pharm Sci 1979;68:586-8. PubMed
  9. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Title 21. Part 182 -- Substances Generally Recognized As Safe. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?CFRPart=182
  10. Federal Register April 17,2003. Anti-Diarrheal Products for over-the-counter human use; final monograph. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKETS/98fr/03-9380.pdf (Accessed 27 December 2004).
  11. Washio K, Nakamura M, Sato N, et al. Anaphylaxis in a pectin- and cashew nut-allergic child caused by a citrus bath. Allergol Int 2022;71(1):155-157. PubMed

See these in context on the Pectin monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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