Supplement
Chitosan is a fibre made from the shells of shellfish that binds to fats and bile acids in the gut, which is why it is sold as a weight and cholesterol aid. People mostly look at it for weight loss, and meta-analyses found they lost about 1.7 to 2 kilograms more than those on placebo over several weeks, though the evidence is limited. That difference was statistically significant but clinically modest, and cholesterol showed a similarly small drop in the studies reviewed.
- Updated
- How we grade
- Best evidence
- Grade C
- Conditions studied
- 2
- Outcomes
- 2
- Graded outcomes
- 0020
Evidence by condition
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body Weight Meta-analyses: Weight loss of 1.7-2kg more than placebo over 4-24 weeks. Effect is statistically significant but clinically modest. | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 1,200 people |
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Cholesterol Meta-analysis: Modest reduction in total cholesterol (5-8%) and LDL. Mechanism via bile acid binding. | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 800 people |
Key findings
- Body WeightImproves (the measure goes down)
- Total CholesterolImproves (the measure goes down)