Home Ingredients KiOtransine® (Chitin-Glucan Prebiotic Fiber — KitoZyme)
Gut Health

KiOtransine® (Chitin-Glucan Prebiotic Fiber — KitoZyme)

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

KiOtransine® is a chitin-glucan prebiotic fiber from KitoZyme, a non-animal biopolymer purified from the fungus Aspergillus niger. This insoluble fiber is slowly fermented along the whole colon, feeding beneficial bacteria and supporting healthy digestion and transit.

Studied Dose The single human study used one 4.5 g dose of chitin-glucan; no repeated daily regimen has been established in trials.
Active Compound Chitin-glucan, a non-animal insoluble prebiotic fiber from Aspergillus niger.

Benefits

Gut microbiome support

Chitin-glucan is a fermentable fiber: a small human study found a single dose raised colonic fermentation markers, and laboratory colonic-model work shows it shifts gut bacteria. A bifidogenic effect has been seen mainly in laboratory models rather than measured in a human trial.

Supported by Trial 1

Digestive tolerability (single-dose study)

A single 4.5 g dose was tolerated without significant digestive discomfort in one small human study; no trial has yet measured whether the fiber improves digestive symptoms or transit.

Supported by Trial 1

Cardiometabolic interest

The only human cardiometabolic trial tested a different product, a beta-glucan and chitin-chitosan blend, not chitin-glucan itself, so there is no direct human cardiometabolic evidence for this fiber.

Supported by Trial 1

Mechanism of action

1

Slow colonic fermentation

The insoluble chitin-glucan is fermented gradually along the colon, producing short-chain fatty acids and butyrate that nourish the gut lining.

2

Bifidogenic activity

In laboratory colonic models, chitin-glucan shifts the microbial community; a selective bifidogenic effect has not been confirmed in a human trial.

Clinical trials

1
Chitin-Glucan Colonic Fermentation in Healthy Adults (FiberTAG): Acute Breath-Marker Study, Not a Clinical Outcome Trial
PubMed

Randomized crossover acute-intervention study comparing a single 4.5 g dose of chitin-glucan against a maltodextrin placebo added to a standardized breakfast, with breath volatile metabolites measured by SIFT-MS across the day. (Neyrinck et al., Gut Microbes, 2021). One co-author is affiliated with KitoZyme, which makes the fiber.

15 healthy volunteers. Single-dose acute crossover.

The 4.5 g dose was tolerated without significant gastrointestinal discomfort and increased exhaled butyrate and other microbial fermentation metabolites, confirming that the fiber is fermented in the colon. This is a fermentation biomarker measured in breath, not a clinical gut-symptom or metabolic outcome.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

Generally well-tolerated as a fiber.
Mild gas or bloating can occur as intake rises.
Increase the dose gradually and drink plenty of water.

Important Drug interactions

No major drug interactions are established for this ingredient.
Tell your doctor about all supplements if you take prescription medication.
Use caution if pregnant, breastfeeding, or managing a health condition.

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Frequently asked questions about KiOtransine® (Chitin-Glucan Prebiotic Fiber — KitoZyme)

What is KiOtransine?

KiOtransine® is a chitin-glucan prebiotic fiber from KitoZyme, a non-animal biopolymer purified from the fungus Aspergillus niger. This insoluble fiber is slowly fermented along the whole colon, feeding beneficial bacteria and supporting healthy digestion and transit.

What is KiOtransine used for?

KiOtransine is researched primarily for Gut Health. Chitin-glucan is a fermentable fiber: a small human study found a single dose raised colonic fermentation markers, and laboratory colonic-model work shows it shifts gut bacteria.

What is the recommended dosage of KiOtransine?

The clinically studied dose is The single human study used one 4.5 g dose of chitin-glucan; no repeated daily regimen has been established in trials. Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is KiOtransine safe, and does it have side effects?

For most healthy adults, KiOtransine is well tolerated at studied doses. Reported effects can include: Generally well-tolerated as a fiber. Mild gas or bloating can occur as intake rises. It may also interact with some medications. KiOtransine 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 KiOtransine interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: No major drug interactions are established for this ingredient. Tell your doctor about all supplements if you take prescription medication. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for KiOtransine?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for KiOtransine 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. Neyrinck AM, Rodriguez J, Zhang Z, Seethaler B, Mailleux F, Vercammen J, Bindels LB, Cani PD, Nazare JA, Maquet V, Laville M, Bischoff SC, Walter J, Delzenne NM Noninvasive monitoring of fibre fermentation in healthy volunteers by analyzing breath volatile metabolites: lessons from the FiberTAG intervention study Gut Microbes. 2021;13(1):1-16. doi:10.1080/19490976.2020.1862028.PubMedUsed to support: Acute crossover in 15 healthy volunteers: a single 4.5 g dose of chitin-glucan was tolerated without significant digestive discomfort and raised exhaled butyrate and other colonic fermentation metabolites (a breath surrogate, not a clinical outcome); one co-author is KitoZyme-affiliated and the KiOtransine brand is not named.
  2. Calatayud M, Verstrepen L, Ghyselinck J, Van den Abbeele P, Marzorati M, Modica S, Ranjanoro T, Maquet V Chitin Glucan Shifts Luminal and Mucosal Microbial Communities, Improve Epithelial Barrier and Modulates Cytokine Production In Vitro Nutrients. 2021;13(9):3249. doi:10.3390/nu13093249.PubMedUsed to support: In vitro human fecal fermentation/colonic model study showing chitin-glucan (the KiOtransine active) shifted microbial communities, improved epithelial barrier integrity, and modulated cytokines (increased IL-10), supporting gut microbiome and digestive comfort claims. Note: in vitro study; not a clinical trial in living human subjects.
  3. Santisteban V, Muñoz-García N, López-Yerena A, Puntes M, Badimon L, Padró T Efficacy of Food Industry By-Product β-Glucan/Chitin-Chitosan on Lipid Profile of Overweight and Obese Individuals: Sustainability and Nutraceuticals Nutrients. 2024;16(19):3420. doi:10.3390/nu16193420.PubMedUsed to support: Randomized trial in overweight/obese adults of a different product, a beta-glucan and chitin-chitosan blend, which raised HDL cholesterol and lowered ApoB; this blend is not chitin-glucan, so it does not establish a cardiometabolic effect for the KiOtransine fiber.