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ChitosanThe compound is a fiber composed of chitin, a component of the shell of shellfish. It has the ability to bind fat from food in the stomach and the intestines. When fat content in the bowel increases, it makes the feces soft and smooth. This effect has lead to the use of the compound in alternative medicine for constipation. However, in studies, the role of the compound in weight loss and cholesterol reduction have produced mixed results. In one Argentinian study, diabetics who ate bread containing the compound had lower cholesterol levels, but a study done in Finland did not show effect on cholesterol levels with supplementation of the compound. Chitosan - StudiesEvaluating efficacy of a chitosan product using a double-blinded, placebo-controlled protocol. J Am Coll Nutr. 2006 Oct;25(5):389-94. Kaats GR, Michalek JE, Preuss HG. Health and Medical Research Center, 4940 Broadway, Suite 201, San Antonio, TX. The effect of the dietary supplement, Chitosan, on body weight: a randomised controlled trial in 250 overweight and obese adults. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2004 Sep;28(9):1149-56. Improvement of HDL- and LDL-cholesterol levels in diabetic subjects by feeding bread containing chitosan. J Med Food. 2003 Winter;6(4):397-9. The effect of long-term microcrystalline chitosan therapy on plasma lipids and glucose concentrations in subjects with increased plasma total cholesterol: a randomised placebo-controlled double-blind crossover trial in healthy men and women. Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland. Efficacy of a novel chitosan formulation on fecal fat excretion: a double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled study. J Med. 2002;33(1-4):209-25. Effect of chitosan in complex management of obesity [Article in Polish] Zahorska-Markiewicz B. Katedra Patofizjologii Sl. AM w Katowicach. Randomized, double-blind trial of chitosan for body weight reduction. Pittler MH. University of Exeter, United Kingdom. Eur J Clin Nutr 1999 May;53(5):379-81. Recent advances on chitosan-based micro- and nanoparticles in drug delivery. J Control Release. 2004 Nov 5;100(1):5-28.
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