Study Finds Chitosan Ineffectual

Study Finds Chitosan Ineffectual

DAVIS, Calif.--In research conducted at the University of California(UC), Davis, scientists have found that the "fat binder" chitosan is ineffective. However, the industry is questioning these possibly biased findings. In the study, UC Davis researchers led by Judith Stern gave seven healthy men a chitosan supplement along with 120 g of fat per day during an eight-day period. Analysis of the subjects' feces showed that the fat that had been purged did not significantly differ whether the subjects took the supplement or not. According to the Los Angeles Times, where this study was reported, Stern drew fire when she presented this information to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in early March. The paper uncovered that part of the study had been financed by a Napa County district attorney who had sued a chitosan supplement company. Stern could not be reached for comment, and an assistant in her office stated that the researcher may have presented her findings too quickly. For more on this study, visitwww.ucdavis.com.