A pilot study assessed the effect of chitosan on cholesterol levels in eight healthy men between 20 and 23 years of age.
After a three-day placebo period, the participants received three biscuits daily, each containing chitosan 1 g, for seven days, followed by six biscuits per day for seven days and three days of placebo biscuits. Outcome measures included total cholesterol, serum HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and fecal bileacid secretion.
Mean total serum cholesterol decreased from 189 to 177 mg/dL (p < 0.01) during the period of chitosan ingestion; this change was reversed during the final three days of placebo ingestion.
Serum HDL cholesterol increased from 51 to 56 mg/dL (p < 0.05) during chitosan treatment, and this was re- versed when chitosan was discontinued.
There were no significant changes in the other outcome measures.