Does chitosan help you lose weight?
The effect of the dietary supplement, Chitosan, on body weight: a randomised controlled trial in 250 overweight and obese adults
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Chitosan caused statistically significant changes in cholesterol and glucose — but the direction was not reported.
Most people assume supplements that affect cholesterol do so in a beneficial way — but this study leaves the direction unknown, which is unusual and concerning.
Practical Takeaways
If you're considering chitosan for weight loss, know that the effect is minimal — less than a bag of sugar — and not meaningful for health.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Chitosan caused statistically significant changes in cholesterol and glucose — but the direction was not reported.
Most people assume supplements that affect cholesterol do so in a beneficial way — but this study leaves the direction unknown, which is unusual and concerning.
Practical Takeaways
If you're considering chitosan for weight loss, know that the effect is minimal — less than a bag of sugar — and not meaningful for health.
Publication
Journal
International Journal of Obesity
Year
2004
Authors
C. N. Mhurchu, S. Poppitt, A. McGill, F. E. Leahy, D. Bennett, R. Lin, D. Ormrod, L. Ward, C. Strik, A. Rodgers, on behalf of the Effect of Chitosan on Health Obesity Collaboration
Related Content
Claims (5)
Taking chitosan supplements for 24 weeks may lead to a tiny weight loss compared to a placebo, but this difference is too small to be meaningful for health.
Chitosan didn't affect other health measures like body fat, blood pressure, or quality of life compared to a placebo.
Chitosan might cause small changes in cholesterol and blood sugar levels, but the study didn't say if they went up or down.
Chitosan doesn't lead to meaningful weight loss in overweight or obese adults over 24 weeks.
Peptides marketed for fat loss often lack robust human evidence, relying instead on animal data or short-term biomarkers without long-term clinical validation.