Chitosan, the amazing fiber supplement derived from the shells of shellfish, is an amino polysaccharide that has the ability to bind lipids in the stomach before they are absorbed through the digestive system into the bloodstream.⁽¹⁾

Chitosan Xtra™ uses a specially processed, high density chitosan, LipoSan Ultra™, that is 90% soluble in stomach acid in one minute, compared to more than one hour for other chitosan products. That means that Chitosan Xtra™ can be taken at mealtime, not 30 to 60 minutes before, and will be available to absorb dietary fat for almost the entire time the meal is being digested. Because of its solubility and higher density, laboratory data indicates that this specially processed chitosan is almost three times more effective as a fat binder than regular chitosan.

Some other fibers have the ability to entrap fats in their gelatinous matrix and prevent their absorption.⁽¹⁾ Chitosan not only has the ability to bind fat, it actually attracts fat. It carries a positive electrical charge which allows it to actually attract negatively charged fatty acids and bile acids and bind them electrostatically. Since chitosan is completely indigestible and non-absorbable, fats bound to chitosan cannot be absorbed.⁽¹⁾

The presence of fats in the blood can raise cholesterol levels, contribute to cardiovascular disease, cancer and obesity. Obesity itself increases the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, osteoarthritis and several forms of cancer.⁽¹⁾

Blood taken from an individual soon after he has eaten a double cheeseburger, French fries and a thick milk shake will often be a milky pink color due to the infusion of fat from the digestive system. This fat circulates throughout the system until it is either burned or stored. If even a portion of that fat is bound and cannot be absorbed, less fat is available to be stored by the body or deposited in the arteries. The system is also spared the stress of having to process that fat.⁽¹⁾

In studies done in Helsinki, patients taking chitosan lost an average of 8 percent of their body weight in a 4-week period. Since fats have more than twice as many calories (9 per gram) as protein and carbohydrates (4 per gram), it stands to reason that preventing fat absorption would be of benefit in weight management programs. Fats are also more readily converted to pounds. Protein and carbohydrates require a more complicated process to convert and store their energy as fat.^(1,3)

A high fiber, low fat diet will usually produce some weight loss even in normal weight subjects.^(1,4) High fiber intake can suppress the appetite through its bulking action which produces a feeling of fullness. Some plant fibers also have the ability to inhibit fat absorption; however, chitosan is the most effective fiber known for preventing fat absorption. In a comparison of chitosan to 13 other types of fiber, 5-10 times more fat was excreted with chitosan than with any other fiber tested.⁽⁵⁾

Most fibers are hydrophilic...they repel fat and attract water. Since chitosan is positively charged, it attracts and binds negatively charged fatty acids and bile acids. It can also wrap around fat droplets to prevent their digestion and absorption.⁽¹⁾ Chitosan absorbs fats and oils so effectively that it is used to clean up oil spills and in water purification plants to remove oils, grease, heavy metals and fine particulate matter that cause turbidity in waste water streams.⁽¹⁾

Research has shown chitosan to be as effective as the drug cholestyramine for lowering cholesterol, without the deleterious side effects of the drug on the intestinal mucosa. Animal studies show that chitosan depresses both serum and liver levels of cholesterol and triglycerides.^(1,3,5-9)

The body uses LDL cholesterol to make bile acids. When these bile acids are broken down, the cholesterol can then be reabsorbed into circulation. If these bile acids are bound to chitosan, they cannot be broken down and the cholesterol is excreted. This increases LDL loss, thus, improving the LDL to HDL ratio.⁽¹⁾

Chitosan has the ability to bind up to 12 times its weight in dietary fat.⁽⁶⁾ When vitamin C is taken along with chitosan, its remarkable fat-binding ability can be significantly enhanced. In one study, the addition of vitamin C to a chitosan enriched diet increased fecal fat losses by 87% and decreased dietary fat absorption by over 50%. In feeding experiments with animals, adding citric acid to a chitosan enriched diet resulted in decreased feed consumption. The most likely explanation for this effect is that the citric acid enhances the swelling action of chitosan and leads to a sense of fullness.⁽¹⁾

Since chitosan is not selective in the type of fat it binds, an essential fatty acid supplement such as Rice Bran Oil, Flax Seed Oil, EPA/DHA, GLA or Primrose Oil is recommended. Essential fatty acids also have a lipid lowering effect and are necessary for the production of prostaglandins which control and balance many body functions. To avoid deficiencies, essential fatty acids, vitamin and mineral supplements and all medications should be taken 4 hours before or after chitosan is taken. When taking any type of fiber supplement, drinking at least 8 glasses of water daily is also recommended.

Since some drugs may be bound by chitosan, patients taking any type of medication should consult a physician before using chitosan. Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding and anyone who has any type of allergic reaction to shellfish should consult a physician before using chitosan.

The National Academy of Science reports, "diet is responsible for 60 percent or more of all cancer in women. The most important dietary change you can make to protect against these diseases is to reduce dietary fat..."⁽¹⁰⁾

When women put on weight, they have a tendency to produce more estrogen. Certain forms of estrogen can act as carcinogens. High or unbalanced estrogen levels stimulate cancerous tissues in the breast. Obesity is also associated with increased breast cancer mortality. High-fat, low-fiber diet, obesity and dangerous estrogen levels also play a role in the development of cervical, uterine and endometrial cancers.⁽¹⁾

Prostate cancer has also been linked to fat consumption. In animal studies, the promotional effect of a high-fat diet on prostate cancer can be found even in the early adolescent diet and as far back as the mother’s preconceptual diet.⁽¹¹⁾ Conversely, mice fed a low-fat diet demonstrated dramatic drops in prostate tumor growth rates.⁽¹²⁾ Dietary fat intake is also closely related to the incidence of colon cancer.⁽¹³⁾

The obesity factor is emerging as much more important than previously thought. New findings strongly suggest that even a relatively small amount of excess weight (between 10 and 20 pounds) can predispose one to the development of heart disease.^(1,2) Becoming overweight is one of the most significant contributors to the development of diabetes.⁽¹⁴⁾ Some individuals with non-insulin dependent diabetes overcome this disorder just by losing excess weight. Excess weight puts extra strain on the joints and can cause osteoarthritis. High intake of fat and cholesterol can influence the formation of cholesterol gallstones.⁽¹⁾

WARNING:   This publication and the product contained herein have not been approved or evaluated by the Federal Drug Administration. This publication, and the product contained herein are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The product relates to nutritional support only.

1. Henner, William J., Ph.D., Chitosan, Woodland Publishing, Inc., Pleasant Grove, UT, 1996.

2. Van Itallie, T.B., "Obesity: adverse effects on health and longevity", American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 1979;32 (suppl):2723-33.

3. Abelin, J., Lassus, A., "Fat binder as a weight reducer in patients with moderate obesity", ARS Mecicina, Helsinki, Aug.-Oct., 1994.

4. Raben, A., Jensen, N.D., Marckmann, P., Sandstrom, B., Astrup, A., "Spontaneous weight loss during 11 weeks’ ad libitum intake of a low fat/high fiber diet in youn, normal weight subjects", Stockholm Press, 1995;916-23.

5. Deuchi, K., Kanauchi, O., Imasatro, Y., Kobayashi, E., "Effectsof Dietary Fibers on Fecal Lipid Excretion", Biosci Biotech Biochem, 1994:58,1613-6.

6. Kobayashi, T., Otsuka, sincerely., Yugari, Y., "Effects of chitosan on serum and liver cholesterol levels in cholesterol-fed rats", Nutritional Rep. Int., 1979;19(3):327-34.

7. Nagyvary, J., Falk, J., Naus, J., Preentation at the 64th Annual Meeting of FASEB, 1980, Fed. Proc., 39, 2733 (abstract)

8. Furda, Ivan, "Aminopolysaccharides--Their Potential as Ditary Fiber", Unconventional Sources of Dietary Fiber, American Chemical Society, 1983, 105-22.

9. Sugano, M., Fujikawa, T., Hiratsuji, Y., Hasegawa, Y., "Hypocholesterolemic effect of chitosan on cholesterol-fed rats," Nutr. Rep. Int. 1978;18(5):531-7.

10. Somer, E., M.A., R.D., Nutrition for Women, New York: Henry Hold and Company, 1993:273.

11. Kondo, Y., Homma, Y., Aso.,Y., Kakizoe, T., "Promotional effects of two generation exposure to a high-fat diet on prostate carcinogenisis in ACI/Seg mice", Cancer Res., 1994;54(23):6129-32.

12. Wang, Y., et. al., "Decreased growth of established human prostate LNCaP tumors in nude mice fed a low-fat diet", J. Natl. Cancer Inst., 1995:87(19):1456-62.

13. Nixon, D.W., "Cancer Prevention Clinical Trials", In-Vivo, 1994,8(5):713-6.

14. Felber, J.P., "From Obesity to Diabetes: Pathophysiological Considerations", Int. Jrnl. of Obesity, 1992;16:937-52.
 

Each capsule supplies:
LipoSan Ultra™ (high density chitosan marine fiber concentrate) 250 mg.
Citric Acid 75 mg.
Lipase (3000 units) 25 mg.
Other ingredients: gelatin, magnesium stearate.

LipoSan Ultra™ is a trademark of Vanson, Inc.

RECOMMENDED DOSAGE: Two to four capsules with 8 ounces of water immediately before or with each meal. To enhance the fat-binding properties, take a vitamin C supplement at the same time.

Not for use by pregnant or lactating women. Persons with a known allergy to shellfish products should consult a physician before using this product.