Chitosan Clinical Trials and Studies

Chitosan Information

Chitosan Clinical Trials and Studies

While Pharma-Help has not been able to confirm this particular Chitosan clinical trial, it seems to be valid:

In August 2002 a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study proved that Chitosan works. The results of the study said "Significantly higher body weight loss was noted in the chitosan-supplemented group (15.9 kg) than in the placebo group (10.9 kg) Also a greater decrease of systolic and diastolic blood pressure was observed in the chitosan group."

National Library of Medicine

In several other Chitosan studies, in both animals and humans, chitosan's effect on lipids has been demonstrated. These effects have generally been more dramatic in various animal models, possibly due to higher chitosan intake in many of those studies. Some of these animal studies show very dramatic reductions in cholesterol and in LDL-cholesterol. Some have observed increases in the HDL-cholesterol, as well.

In humans, results have been less clear-cut, though still suggestive of positive effects. In one recent placebo-controlled, double-blind chitosan study, there was a significant decrease in LDL-cholesterol among subjects receiving 2,400 milligrams of chitosan daily, compared with placebo subjects. Chitosan had no significant effect on serum total cholesterol or on HDL-cholesterol, but it slightly increased triglycerides. Others have reported similar effects: reduced LDL-cholesterol with little or no effect on HDL and total cholesterols. A few others, however, have reported no lipid effects. Differences may be due to dissimilar dosing.

In animal models of chronic renal failure, chitosan produced decreases in serum urea nitrogen, serum creatine and serum phosphate. It also ameliorated anemia and increased fecal weight, fecal water content, fecal nitrogen and fecal sodium. The apparent protein ratio was decreased in a dose-dependent pattern in some of these studies, and survival times were markedly and significantly extended.

In a human chitosan study of 80 patients with chronic renal failure, similarly encouraging results were obtained. Half of these patients received 30 chitosan tablets (each containing 45 milligrams of chitosan) three times a day for a total of 4,050 milligrams daily. After four weeks on this regiment, these subjects experienced significant reductions in urea and creatine levels in serum, compared with controls. Significant gains were also measured in physical strength, appetite and sleep patterns after 12 weeks of chitosan supplementation. It is interesting to note that chitosan at this dose also significantly reduced total serum cholesterol levels (and increased serum hemoglobin levels).

Favorable lipid results would suggest that supplemental chitosan might help prevent atherosclerosis. This idea has been tested in some animal models with promising results. Using the apolipoprotein E-deficient mouse model of atherosclerosis, for example, researchers recently showed that a 5% chitosan diet could produce "a highly significant inhibition of atherogenesis"--42% inhibition in the whole aorta and 50% inhibition in the aortic arch, compared with controls. These positive effects were attributed to a 65% reduction in blood cholesterol levels (after 20 weeks on the 5% chitosan diet).

Some research has demonstrated that topical preparations containing chitosan can help speed wound healing. Other preliminary studies suggest that chitosan might be useful in lean type non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. In an animal model of this disease, chitosan significantly reduced blood glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides. (The same results, however, could not be obtained in obese type NIDDM.) Still other similarly preliminary studies suggest that chitosan might help protect the liver against some toxins. More research in these areas is needed.

Claims have been made that chitosan can help reduce weight. There is insufficient data to support this claim. Two recent studies failed to find any weight-loss effect from the use of chitosan in overweight subjects. In the larger and longer-term of these two studies, 51 healthy obese women were given either placebo or 2,400 milligrams of chitosan for eight weeks. No significant weight reduction was noted in the treatment group.

Similarly, while there is insufficient data to support claims that chitosan fights cancer, heals ulcers, aids digestion, or boosts or otherwise modifies immunity, the general conclusion could be that chitosan is a well-rounded dietary supplement with ample benefits on multiple facets of an individual's health.

Chitosan Information