Chitosan to Lose Weight?

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Chitosan is a much-hyped extract from the skeleton of lobsters, crabs and shrimp, purported to induce a feeling of "fullness," thereby reducing food intake and ultimately causing weight loss.

We studied the medical and scientific work on chitosan with an open mind as other questions might come up in addition to its possible efficacy. For example, can it be harmful?

The following journals were reviewed:

Journal of Pharmaceutical Pharmacology, Vopr Pitan (Russian,) J. of Biomed. Mater. Res., British J. of Plastic Surgery (in which it is used,) Int. J. of Immunopharmacology (Canada,) J. of Nutrition.

That is a much shorter list than we usually find in researching nutrients and vitamins. Little scientific study has apparently been done on chitosan generally and none on weight control.

We found that it is used as a dressing on wounds, and has anti-tumor effects when combined with the chemotherapy drug cisplatin (when it prevents body weight reduction.)
It has lowered cholesterol in animal experiments. It also appears to induce the production of tumor necrosis factor, which may increase the risk of inflammatory disease.

Another study showed it to support nerve repair.

Can it help you to lose weight? The jury is out on that, in fact it hasn't even been convened.