Chitin, chitosan (a processed version of chitin)
MANUFACTURERS/BRAND (S): Fat Absorb™, Chitosorb, Chinese HD, and Discover, among others.
SOLD AS: Tablets and capsules, typically 500 mg.
WEIGHT LOSS PILL TYPE: Fat absorber. Chitin is a fiber product derived from the exoskeletons of marine animals, such as crabs, oysters, and other shellfish, or from the exoskeletons of some Single-Ingredient, OTC Weight-Management Products.
BACKGROUND/RESEARCH: Chitosan has both postive and negative reviews. A number of industry experts consider it as a vital weight-loss substance due to its capacity to collect and eliminate fatty deposits in the intestines. Quite a few supporters of the product say it can promote blood clotting, treat ulcers, stop tooth decay, and treat staph infections.
People are not confident of chitosan’s virtues. In March 2001, experts at the University of California at Davis Clinical Nutrition Research Unit found that chitosan does not stop the absorption of fat. Nor is the Federal Trade Commission confident. In 1999, the commission charged one manufacturer of chitosan with false marketing and inability to prove. Those promises range from the power to encourage weight loss to lowering the risk of cancer, reducing cholesterol levels, managing blood pressure, and healing infections. One more issue in relation to chitin is its purity and composition, that may fluctuate tremendously based on which animal it is extracted from, where it is harvested, and the time of year it is gathered.
Up until 1999, no scientific research had been performed on the use of chitin in humans. Promises of weight reduction were determined by studies done in mice, in which chitin lowered blood-sugar, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels in normal-weight animals. It had virtually no influence on obese mice. When chitin was put into chicken feed, the chickens that ate the treated food were more lean than those that ate untreated feed. Then, in 1999, the final results of a placebo-controlled, double-blind trial indicated that chitosan, when taken by obese people who did not change their diet, failed to bring about weight loss.
Gary Huber, vice president for Scientific Affairs in the American Nutraceutical Association in Birmingham, Alabama, affirms that during the studies that involved chickens and other animals, the quantity of chitin given throughout the experiments was “huge.” “[Humans] would have to take several cupfuls,” he says, so that you can notice any gain from chitin. Nevertheless, even smaller amounts of chitin can cause problems (see Precautions).
WHAT IS IT SUPPOSED TO DO: Chitin has no calories since it is not digestible. Statements by producers of chitosan goods are that it binds to or captures extra fat molecules and can decrease fat absorption by 20 to 30 percent. Chitosan supposedly absorbs 6 to 8 times its weight in fats and oils, in addition to controlling blood pressure, has antitumor action, improves bone density, heals wounds, lowers LDL (low-density lipoprotein, the “bad” cholesterol) by as much as 66 percent, and raises HDL (highdensity lipoprotein, the “good” cholesterol). Several professionals agree that these statements are significantly overstated. In accordance with David Schardt, associate nutritionist for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, “it’s conceivable that it may have a little effect,” but that effect is practically undetectable.
HOW TO TAKE IT: A typical dosage is at least 1 gram 30 minutes before or with lunch OF dinner. Drink at least 8 ounces of water with each tablet to help prevent constipation, and drink no less than an extra 48 ounces of water throughout the day.
SIDE EFFECTS: Many packages say no side effects have been documented when it’s used as instructed. Nevertheless, anecdotal reports tell of the opportunity for diarrhea and fatty stools.
PRECAUTIONS: Chitosan inhibits the absorption of fatsoluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, and E) and fat-soluble drugs. A deficiency of these vitamins may appear when taking chitosan. Never take more than 3 grams of chitosan a day, or serious bowel obstruction may occur. If you are allergic to shellfish, do not take chitosan. Chitosan is not going to enhance weight loss in people who binge and purge or who regularly overeat. Children younger than fourteen shouldn’t take chitosan. Do not take it if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Because fiber supplements can interfere with the effectiveness and action of prescription and nonprescription drugs, nutritional supplements, and herbal remedies, talk to your doctor prior to taking chitosan if you are taking some of these substances.
Weight Loss Products containing Chitin/Chitosan
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