Summary: It is common knowledge that diabetes increases the risk of premature death, hyperlipemia, diabetes, arterial blood hypertension and ischemic heart diseases. Both for medical and aesthetic considerations, the need of safe and natural methods to improve the weight reducing process is obvious in particular if it is enhanced the loss of body fat with a saving of muscular mass. A new synthetised Chitosan dietary fiber (CT) indigestible and with a very low toxicity has been demonstrated to have antihyperlipidemic effects and to interfere with fat absorption. After ingestion CT is solubilized in the acid environment of the stomach, entraps fatty acid by means of ionic bond and neutral fats by means of hydrophobic forces and decrease their intestinal absorption. Aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of CT associated with a low calories diet or to the abitual free diet, compared to placebo (P), on body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI), body fat (BF), skinfolds (S), arterial blood pressure (BP) and blood chemistry analysis. Thirty obese subjects were studied in a randomized double blind controlled trial for a period of one month. Group A was treated with 4 tablets/day of CT plus a 1200 calories diet; group B with the same hypocaloric diet and 4tb/day of P; group C with 4 tb/day of CT without and dietary restriction. No side effects neither abnormal modifications of blood chemistry analysis were noted at the end of the study. Subjects taking CT appeared satisfied with the treatment, but some complained of constipation. The study showed a statistically significant (p <0,001) reduction of BW, BMI, BF, S in all the groups, but it was greater in group A (BW = -4 Kg; BMI = -1/7 Kg/cm2 BF = -4%; S -17mm in group A; BW = -2,6 Kg; BMI = -0,6 Kg/cm2 BF -1,2%; S = -5mm in group B; BW = -2,8 Kg; BMI = -1,1 Kg/cm2 BF=. 3,3%; S -11 mm in group C). It is of interest to underline that, even if BW reduction was similar in group B and C, subjects treated with CT (group C) showed a statistically significant greater S decrease. It can be argued that subjects treated with CT (alone or in association with hypocaloric diet) present a bigger loss of adipous tissue with respect to subjects on diet restriction only. Diastolic BP too, significantly decreased in groups A (-7 mmHg) and C (-9 mmHg)(p<0,00l), but not in group B(-1 mmHg n.s.). We suppose that the greater loss in BF may be responsible for the effect. Plasma cholesterol and triglycerides levels decreased in all groups significantly (p< 0,01)(-26 mg/dl and -27 mg/dl in A); -15 mg/dl and -26 mg/dl in B; -28 mg/dl and -27 mg/dl in C), but only in group C there was significant increase of HDL-cholesterol (+11 mg/dl, p <0,001). In conclusion or study demonstrated that the dietary fiber CT is useful in the treatment of obesity because it enhances the loss of body fat and acts to normalize plasma cholesterol and triglycerides levels, possibly with an increase of HDL-cholesterol. Greater effects are obtained when CT is associated with a hypocaloric diet.

PREV | RESEARCH | NEXT