Chitosan Supplements & Fat Absorption
in Men
Chitosan Study Objective
Few weight loss supplements are clinically tested for efficacy, yet their
proliferation continues. Chitosan-based supplements are sold as fat trappers
and fat magnets. They purportedly block fat absorption and cause weight
loss without food restriction. We quantified the in vivo effect of a chitosan
product on fat absorption.
Chitosan Study Research Methods and
Procedures
Participants (n = 15) consumed five meals per day for 12 days. Energy
intake was not restricted. Participants consumed no supplements during
a 4-day control period and two capsules five times per day (4.5 g chitosan/d),
30 minutes before each meal, during a 4-day supplement period. All feces
were collected from days 2 to 12. Oral charcoal markers permitted division
of the feces into two periods. The two fecal pools were analyzed for fat
content.
Chitosan Study Results
The effect of chitosan on fat absorption is clinically negligible. Far
from being a fat trapper, at 0.11 ± 0.18 g of fat trapped per 0.45-g
capsule or 1.1 g (9.9 kcal) fat trapped per day, this product would have
no significant effect on energy balance. The fat trapping claims associated
with chitosan are unsubstantiated.
Source: University of California Davis.
Obesity Research 11:683-688 (2003)
Diet and Weight Loss Supplements
If you want to reduce weight and you are considering buying supplements,
then for optimum health, as well as fat loss, check ingredients thoroughly.
Labelling and health follow-up arrangements for dietary supplements are
relatively lax, so it's up to you to vet the supplement product!
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