Pharmacology.
Chitosan, the dea-cetylated polymer of N-acetyl-D- glucosamine (chitin),
is water soluble and chemically similar to cellulose.
It occurs naturally in fungi, yeasts, marine inver- tebrates,
and arthropods.
Chitosan is the principal component of exoskeletons of marine crustaceans, from which sup- plements are often derived. Chitosan may be considered a cellulose-like dietary fiber; therefore,
minimal digestion occurs, and most in- gested chitosan is excreted fecally.8