Microcrystalline Chitosan is Ineffective to Decrease Plasma Lipids in both Apolipoprotein E ε4 Carriers and Non‐Carriers: A Long‐Term Placebo‐Controlled Trial in Hypercholesterolaemic Volunteers

Chitosan is a deacetylated product of chitin. Microcrystalline form of chitosan has a large adsorption area claimed to decrease gastrointestinal absorption of cholesterol. However, the long-term effect of chitosan on plasma lipids is variable, the averaged influence being negligible or lacking in mildly-to-moderately hypercholesterolaemic (4.8-6.8 mmol/l) subjects. We evaluated whether this variation and inefficacy depend on apolipoprotein E genotype. 130 middle-aged, otherwise healthy men (n=55) and women (n=75) were randomized into two treatment groups for a 7 month trial. During a 1 month run-in period all participants received placebo. Subsequently, one half first took placebo twice daily for 3 months and then 1.2 g chitosan twice daily for 3 months, and the other half vice versa in a cross-over way. Altogether 84 participants completed the study. Plasma lipids and glucose were determined at the end of each phase of the study, and all subjects undergone to the cross-over phases were apolipoprotein E genotyped. Chitosan altered plasma total, low- and high density cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood glucose in neither apolipoprotein E epsilon 4 allele carriers (n=29) nor non-carriers (n=55), compared to placebo. In conclusions, chitosan is ineffective to decrease plasma lipids in apolipoprotein E epsilon 4 carrier and non-carrier phenotypes with mildly-to-moderately increased plasma cholesterol.