The Promise of the Dietary Supplement :: Research Science Diet Essays

The Promise of the Dietary Supplement Fat Busters, Fat Trappers, Fat Magnets and Fat Absorbers all have one ‘miraculous’ agent in common – chitosan. Why is this supplement all the rage in today’s weight loss market? Will chitosan live up to its touted potential? The dietary supplement, chitosan is the processed, more water-soluble form of one of the most common substances in nature: chitin (KITE-in). The exoskeletons of arthropods (ants, shellfish, etc.) and the walls of many molds, yeast and fungi contain this building block of nature. Chitosan was first discovered in 1811 by Henri Braconnot, director of the botanical garden in Nancy, France. Bracannot observed that a certain substance (chitin) found in mushrooms did not dissolve in sulfuric acid. Over the last 200 years, the exploration of chitosan has taken on many different forms. Several other researchers continue to build on the original finding of Bracannot, discovering new uses for chitin as they find different forms of it in nature. Chitosan aids in the â€Å"reduction of triglycerides due to its ability to bind dietary lipids, thereby reducing intestinal lipid absorption† (Koide, 1998). Translation? Basically, chitin molecules have the ability to latch on to heavy metals, amino acids and FAT. Chitin may be able to ‘soak up’ fat in the intestine and flush it through the body before it can be absorbed. If effective, this process should lead to weight reduction. Neutralize fat, thus causing weight loss Reduce cholesterol Provide a safe and natural weight loss program with minimal / no side effects According to Sally Squires, in the March 28, 2000 issue of The Washington Post, several factors involving chitosan should be considered before buying chitosan-based products: 1) The composition of chitin can vary depending on the seawater, the animal from which it is taken, and the time of year. There is no ‘pure form’ that can be counted on. 2) Following the Dietary Supplement Health and Nutrition Act in 1994, the FDA has a limited ability to regulate vitamins, minerals and other dietary supplements (i.e. chitosan). It is, therefore, possible to stock shevles full of a product without providing related scientific evidence. 3) The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) won an $8.3 million judgment against a company violating federal consumer protection laws with false claims concerning chitin. 4) The FTC lawsuit is the first of several additional (non FTC) suits for false claims regarding chitin and chitosan, including a lawsuit filed by both Napa and Sonoma counties in California.