Evidence supporting the use of: Polychitosamine
For the health condition: Weight Loss

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Polychitosamine is a derivative of chitosan, a natural polysaccharide obtained from the shells of crustaceans such as shrimp and crabs. Chitosan and its derivatives have been marketed as dietary supplements for weight loss, primarily based on their purported ability to bind dietary fats in the gastrointestinal tract, thereby reducing fat absorption and overall caloric intake. The scientific rationale is that the positively charged chitosan molecules can attract and bind negatively charged fatty acids, forming complexes that are excreted rather than absorbed.

However, clinical evidence supporting the efficacy of chitosan (and by extension, polychitosamine) for weight loss is limited and mixed. Several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses have evaluated chitosan’s effect on body weight. A 2008 Cochrane review concluded that chitosan use resulted in a small but statistically significant greater weight loss compared to placebo, but the mean difference was only about 1 kg and the quality of the evidence was low due to methodological weaknesses and short study durations. More recent systematic reviews have echoed similar conclusions, suggesting that any weight loss effect is minor and of questionable clinical relevance.

There is no substantial traditional use for polychitosamine or chitosan specifically for weight loss, as its use is based on more recent mechanistic hypotheses rather than historical practice. Overall, while some scientific studies suggest a modest effect, the overall quality and magnitude of evidence supporting polychitosamine for weight loss is low.

More about polychitosamine
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Other health conditions supported by polychitosamine

Metabolic Syndrome
Triglycerides (high)
Weight Loss

Products containing polychitosamine

We currently have no products on Vitabase that contain this ingredient.