Home Ingredients Chitin-Glucan Fiber (Fungal, Aspergillus niger; Kitozyme)
CardiovascularMetabolic Health

Chitin-Glucan Fiber (Fungal, Aspergillus niger; Kitozyme)

Evidence Level
Limited
1 Clinical Trial
3 Documented Benefits
2/5 Evidence Score

Chitin-glucan is a fungal fiber from the mycelium of Aspergillus niger, supplied by Kitozyme. It is an insoluble dietary fiber. In two small industry-involved randomized trials, 4.5 grams per day modestly lowered oxidized LDL and blunted the rise in blood sugar and triglycerides after a meal. No human trial has shown it causes weight loss. Because it is fungal rather than shellfish-derived, it does not carry the shellfish-allergy warning that chitosan does.

Studied Dose Doses of 1.5 to 4.5 grams per day were tested in humans; 4.5 grams per day for 6 weeks was the dose that lowered oxidized LDL in the trial.
Active Compound Chitin-glucan, an insoluble fiber complex of chitin and beta-glucan from fungal (Aspergillus niger) mycelium.

Benefits

Post-meal blood sugar and triglycerides

In a small crossover trial in people at cardiometabolic risk, 4.5 grams per day blunted the rise in blood sugar and triglycerides after a test meal. No human trial has shown chitin-glucan causes weight loss; the reported weight effects are in mice given a different mushroom-derived material.

Supported by Trial 1

Lipid support

In a 6-week randomized placebo-controlled trial in 130 adults with borderline-high LDL, 4.5 grams per day significantly lowered oxidized LDL. It did not significantly change HDL, triglycerides, glucose, or insulin, and its effect on total LDL cholesterol was small and inconsistent.

Supported by Trial 1

Vegetarian fiber

As a fungal fiber, it is a shellfish-free alternative to chitosan and does not carry a shellfish-allergy warning. In a human trial it increased fiber fermentation and shifted gut bacteria.

Supported by Trial 1

Mechanism of action

1

Post-meal glucose and fat handling

This is an insoluble fiber, so unlike the soluble beta-glucan in oats and barley it does not form a viscous gel. Human data point to smaller post-meal rises in glucose and triglycerides and to changes in gut bacteria, rather than to measurable binding of dietary fat.

2

Fiber bulking and fermentation

It is fermented in the colon: in a human trial it raised exhaled hydrogen and shifted gut bacteria. Effects on satiety have not been measured in people.

Clinical trials

1
Chitin-Glucan and Oxidized LDL (Human Randomized Trial)
PubMed

6-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of Aspergillus niger chitin-glucan fiber in 130 adults with borderline to high LDL cholesterol. (Bays et al. 2013, European Journal of Clinical Nutrition). Manufacturer co-authored.

130 adults with borderline to high LDL cholesterol and no diabetes.

4.5 grams per day for 6 weeks significantly lowered oxidized LDL versus placebo (P=0.035). There was no significant effect on HDL, triglycerides, glucose, insulin, or F2-isoprostanes, and the change in LDL cholesterol was small and inconsistent across doses.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

Generally well-tolerated as a dietary fiber.
Mild gas, bloating, or loose stools can occur with fat-binding fibers.
Take with plenty of water and separate from fat-soluble vitamins.

Important Drug interactions

Fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) — fat-binding fiber may reduce absorption; separate dosing.
Fat-soluble medications — separate by a few hours.
Tell your doctor if you take medication that needs dietary fat.

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Frequently asked questions about Chitin-Glucan Fiber (Fungal, Aspergillus niger; Kitozyme)

What is Chitin-Glucan Fiber?

Chitin-glucan is a fungal fiber from the mycelium of Aspergillus niger, supplied by Kitozyme. It is an insoluble dietary fiber. In two small industry-involved randomized trials, 4.5 grams per day modestly lowered oxidized LDL and blunted the rise in blood sugar and triglycerides after a meal.

What is Chitin-Glucan Fiber used for?

Chitin-Glucan Fiber is researched primarily for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health. In a small crossover trial in people at cardiometabolic risk, 4.5 grams per day blunted the rise in blood sugar and triglycerides after a test meal.

What is the recommended dosage of Chitin-Glucan Fiber?

The clinically studied dose is Doses of 1.5 to 4.5 grams per day were tested in humans; 4.5 grams per day for 6 weeks was the dose that lowered oxidized LDL in the trial. Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is Chitin-Glucan Fiber safe, and does it have side effects?

For most healthy adults, Chitin-Glucan Fiber is well tolerated at studied doses. Reported effects can include: Generally well-tolerated as a dietary fiber. Mild gas, bloating, or loose stools can occur with fat-binding fibers. It may also interact with some medications. Chitin-Glucan Fiber is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does Chitin-Glucan Fiber interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: Fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) — fat-binding fiber may reduce absorption; separate dosing. Fat-soluble medications — separate by a few hours. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for Chitin-Glucan Fiber?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for Chitin-Glucan Fiber as Limited (2 out of 5). It is backed by 1 clinical trial and 3 cited references summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(3 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Park HJ, Lee S, Ye M, et al. Anti-Obesity Effect of Chitoglucan in High-Fat-Induced Obesity Mice. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;20(1):281..PubMedUsed to support: A study in high-fat-diet mice, not people, and of a different material: chitoglucan from the enoki mushroom Flammulina velutipes rather than the Aspergillus niger fiber described on this page. At 50 to 300 mg/kg it reduced adipose tissue weight and serum leptin in the mice. It does not establish any weight-loss effect in humans or for the Kitozyme ingredient.
  2. Bays HE, Evans JL, Maki KC, Evans M, Maquet V, Cooper R, Anderson JW Chitin-glucan fiber effects on oxidized low-density lipoprotein: a randomized controlled trial. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2013;67(1):2-7..PubMedUsed to support: 6-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 130 adults with borderline to high LDL cholesterol. Insoluble chitin-glucan from Aspergillus niger at 4.5 grams per day significantly lowered oxidized LDL versus placebo (P=0.035); it did not significantly change HDL, triglycerides, glucose, insulin, or F2-isoprostanes, and its effect on LDL cholesterol was small and inconsistent across doses. Co-authored by the manufacturer (Kitozyme).
  3. Ranaivo H, Zhang Z, Alligier M, et al. Chitin-glucan supplementation improved postprandial metabolism and altered gut microbiota in subjects at cardiometabolic risk in a randomized trial. Sci Rep. 2022;12(1):8830..PubMedUsed to support: Small (n=15) double-blind randomized crossover trial. 4.5 grams per day of Aspergillus niger chitin-glucan lowered the rise in blood sugar and triglycerides after a standardized test meal and shifted gut bacteria, versus a maltodextrin control. Exploratory, industry-involved (a Kitozyme author), and did not measure weight loss.