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 invertebrates,
and arthropods.
Chitosan is the principal component of exoskeletons of marine crustaceans, from which supplements 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