Benefits
Weight management
A meta-analysis of trials found chitosan supplementation supported modest reductions in body weight and body composition; KiOnutrime-CsG provides a vegetarian chitosan for this use.
Fat binding
Chitosan binds some dietary fat in the digestive tract, reducing the amount absorbed from a meal.
Shellfish-free option
Being fungal-derived, it suits vegetarians and people with shellfish allergies, unlike traditional shellfish chitosan.
Mechanism of action
Electrostatic fat binding
Positively charged chitosan binds negatively charged fatty acids and bile acids in the gut, forming complexes that are excreted rather than absorbed.
Bile-acid sequestration
Removing bile acids prompts the body to use cholesterol to make more, supporting healthy cholesterol.
Clinical trials
Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of chitosan on body weight and composition. (Huang et al. 2020, Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition)
Adults across multiple RCTs.
Chitosan supplementation supported modest reductions in body weight versus control.