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Chitosan

Chitosan

Best for

Reduce belly and deep abdominal fat

Likely benefit for 9–52 weeks · 1 meta-analysis , n=755

19 papers · 3 claims · 50 outcomes scored · 3 positive

Outcomes

What chitosan actually does, by outcome

Each row is one outcome with effect size, evidence base, the dose that worked in trials, and time to first effect. Magnitude tiers come from native-unit MCID where available, Cohen's d otherwise.

Outcome Effect Evidence Dose Weeks Rank
Reduce belly and deep abdominal fat Likely benefit
moderate 		7 meta-analyses n=755 Meta-analyzed 1.6–3000 mg 9–52 wk #2/51
Lose weight on the scale Likely modest benefit
small 		12 meta-analyses n=3.2k Meta-analyzed 0.34–3200 mg 8–52 wk #3/75
Lose body fat Faint early signal
small 		3 RCTs n=159 2500–3000 mg 12–13 wk —

Risk profile

Adverse events and known drug interactions

Safety events

Potential fat-soluble vitamin malabsorption (theoretical)
Fecal impaction (fecalomas) requiring treatment withdrawal

Drug interactions

Warfarin major increases effect
Acenocoumarol major increases effect
Warfarin moderate increases effect
Antineoplastic Agents moderate decreases effect
Fluoxetine moderate decreases concentration

Sources

  1. 1. Single-blind, placebo controlled randomised clinical study of chitosan for body weight reduction. (2016) ↑
  2. 2. Influence of Chitosan Treatment on Surrogate Serum Markers of Cholesterol Metabolism in Obese Subjects. (2018) ↑
  3. 3. Long-Term Treatment of Overweight and Obesity with Polyglucosamine (PG L112): Randomized Study Compared with Placebo in Subjects after Caloric Restriction. (2017) ↑
  4. 4. A Meta-Analysis on Randomised Controlled Clinical Trials Evaluating the Effect of the Dietary Supplement Chitosan on Weight Loss, Lipid Parameters and Blood Pressure. (2018) ↑
  5. 5. Effect of Polyglucosamine on Weight Loss and Metabolic Parameters in Overweight and Obesity: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis. (2020) ↑
  6. 6. The effects of chitosan supplementation on anthropometric indicators of obesity, lipid and glycemic profiles, and appetite-regulated hormones in adolescents with overweight or obesity: a randomized, double-blind clinical trial. (2022) ↑
  7. 7. A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Study to Evaluate the Effect on the Weight of a Medical Device with Polyglucosamine L112 in a Group of Overweight and Obese Subjects. (2023) ↑
  8. 8. The effect of chitosan supplementation on liver function, hepatic steatosis predictors, and metabolic indicators in adults with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, clinical trial. (2025) ↑
  9. 9. Changes in gut microbiota following supplementation with chitosan in adolescents with overweight or obesity: a randomized, double-blind clinical trial. (2025) ↑
  10. 10. Effects of chitosan-assisted moderate-intensity exercise on metabolic parameters and lower-limb biomechanical characteristics in overweight adults: a randomized controlled trial. (2025) ↑

Generated August 14, 2026

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