Chitosan is extracted from the shells of crustaceans, such as shrimp and crab. Chitosan is not digestible but may have beneficial effects on the gastrointestinal tract. Chitosan appears to reduce the absorption of bile acids or cholesterol; either of these effects may cause a lowering of blood cholesterol. This effect has been demonstrated in animals, and a preliminary human study showed that 3–6 grams per day of chitosan taken for two weeks resulted in a 6% drop in cholesterol and a 10% increase in HDL (the “good”) cholesterol.
   A combination of hoodia, ginger, cinnamon, green tea extract, spirulina, acetylcarnitine, choline, guggul, 5htp, and several other herbs and nutrients, as found in Diet Rx, a very effective herbal diet pill for weight loss. Users of Diet Rx have lost several pounds within a week or two.

Buy Chitosan capsule, 500 mg pill

Chitosan, a fiber derived from chitin in shell-fish, is a nondigestible aminopolysaccharide. Chitosan is synthesized by removing acetyl groups from chitin, through a process called deacetylation. This process enhances the activity of chitosan by improving its solubility in the acidic environment of the stomach.

Chitosan Supplement Facts:
Chitosan (minimum 90% deacetylated chitin) 500 mg

Suggested Use: Two chitosan capsules before lunch and two capsules before dinner. Drink at least 4 glasses of fluid daily.
* Chitosan daily value not established
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Chitosan Summary and review
Studies evaluating the role of chitosan in weight loss have produced mixed results. We are not ready to endorse the use of this supposed weight loss pill at this time.

Other Weight Loss products to consider
5-HTP is a nutrient that helps curb appetite in some individuals . 5-HTP, by converting into serotonin, can be used temporarily to improve will power and decrease the urge to eat until more established weight loss habits are in place.
Hoodia is a cactus plant extract from the Kalahari desert in South Africa that has been getting a lot of attention lately. You can buy Hoodia Extract here.
Green tea extract may be effective in some people as a weight loss pill.
Caffeine is often found in weight loss pills but I personally don't like my patients taking extra caffeine since it can cause increased heart rate and anxiety. Most people already consume enough caffeine through coffee, tea, sodas, and chocolate.
Ginger may be helpful in some people but higher doses are required.
Alpha lipoic acid may also reduce appetite but it is primarily used as an antioxidant.
Guarana may work in combination with yerba mate and damiana
Acetyl-l-carnitine is a weight loss pill that may reduce appetite in some individuals. You can buy Acetyl-l-Carnitine here.
Yerba mate may be helpful in combination with other supplements.

Chitosan study
Efficacy of a novel chitosan formulation on fecal fat excretion: a double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled study.
Barroso Aranda J. Oasis of Hope Hospital, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico.
J Med. 2002;33(1-4):209-25.
The ability of a novel chitosan formulation to influence gastrointestinal fat absorption in vivo was examined in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study by determining the content of total fat in feces in two groups of subjects. Twenty-nine normal healthy subjects were recruited for the study. Twenty-four participants completed the test period with the chitosan formulation, and 21 completed the placebo phase of study. During the placebo and the test periods, the subjects were administered six capsules three times daily 10 minutes before meals for three days and for the two days of the stool collection. A daily serving of six tablets of the test compound contained 2100 mg chitosan and 300 mg psyllium husk seeds. In respect to the baseline period, the test compound increased fat excretion significantly whether the test period preceded or proceeded the placebo period. In contrast, essentially no changes were seen during the placebo loading periods. Compared to the difference between placebo period and its baseline period, a statistically significant increase in fecal fat excretion was observed over baseline following oral supplementation of a novel formulation of chitosan and psyllium husk seeds [+3.63 gm/day vs. -0.15 gm/day. The average daily increase in fecal fat of 3-4 grams over control could account for a decrease in calorie consumption of 30-40 kcal per day. A total of 19 subjects completed both parts of the study. Examining the data from these 19 subjects by ANOVA, it was found that the period when the test compounds were given was statistically significantly different from the placebo baseline, placebo experimental, and test baseline periods. Using multiple comparisons, it was ascertained that the novel formulation containing chitosan plus psyllium husk seeds increases fecal fat excretion.

Effect of chitosan in complex management of obesity [Article in Polish]
Zahorska-Markiewicz B. Katedra Patofizjologii Sl. AM w Katowicach.
The aim of the present study was to verify the effect of chitosan as a possible adjuvant in the complex management of obesity. Fifty obese women (22-59 years, BMI > 30) participated in the study. A six months program consisted of 2-hour meetings with a physician, psychologist and dietitian, in a group of about 20 persons, every two weeks. Low calorie diet (1000 kcal/day), physical activity and behaviour modification were recommended. Supplementation with chitosan was evaluated in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. In the chitosan group, participants received ChitininN (Primex Ingredients ASA, Avaldsnes, Norway) i.e. 750 mg pure chitosan per tablet, two tablets three times daily before each main meal. The placebo group received identical placebo tablets. 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. There was no difference between the groups in the decrease of LDL and total cholesterol. No adverse effects were noted but the number of drop-outs was higher in the placebo group than in the chitosan group. Chitosan can be used as a valuable and safe adjuvant in long-term dietary treatment of obesity. Chitosan seems to accentuate the reduction of blood pressure associated with weight reduction.

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
Overweight and obesity is a prevalent and costly threat to public health. Compelling evidence links overweight and obesity with serious disorders such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Dietary regimen are notoriously burdened with poor compliance. Chitosan is promoted in the US and other countries as an oral remedy to reduce fat absorption and has now been incorporated as a major constituent into several over-the-counter remedies. The primary aim of this study is to investigate the clinical effectiveness of oral chitosan for body weight reduction. Thirty-four overweight volunteers were included in a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind trial. Subjects were assigned to receive either four capsules of chitosan or indistinguishable placebo twice daily for 28 consecutive days. Measurements were taken at baseline, after 14 and 28d of treatment. Subjects maintained their normal diet and documented the type and amount of food consumed. Adverse effects were assessed and compliance monitored. Data from 30 subjects were entered into an intention-to-treat analysis. After four weeks of treatment, body mass index, serum cholesterol, triglycerides, vitamin A, D, E and beta-carotene were not significantly different in subjects receiving chitosan compared to those receiving placebo. Vitamin K was significantly increased after four weeks in the chitosan group compared with placebo. Compliance was 91.5% and 96.0% for chitosan and placebo groups respectively. The above data suggest that chitosan in the administered dosage, without dietary alterations, does not reduce body weight in overweight subjects. No serious adverse effects were reported.

Chitosan supplement questions
Q. I'm a writer with a magazine (reaches 4 million readers) who is writing a cover story about how women can lost weight and improve health with the help of natural supplements like chitosan and white kidney bean extract. Could you help me get in touch with any women who have used chitosan supplement products and have a success story to share?
   A. We don't have any success stories with chitosan supplements for weight loss or white kidney bean extract supplements. These supplements do not seem to be very effective for this purpose. We do have success stories with Diet Rx, though.

Is there any chitosan research regarding the combination with hoodia?
    We have not seen such hoodia and chitosan research for weight loss. See supplement research information.