Effect of Dietary Chitosan on Nitrogen Metabolite Levels in Mice

Background-Chitosan, a polymer of glucosamine, appears to interact with bile acids and/or lipids in the intestinal lumen. As it is well established that the ingestion of some types of dietary fibers has been shown to influence lipid levels, it appears possible that chitosan may also influence protein metabolism.Methods-In the present study, we investigated the effect of chitosan on nitrogen metabolite concentrations in mice. Mice in the treatment group received 10 mg chitosan orally 2 times a day for 21 days. Serum urea and creatinine levels were measured in the test and control groups.Results-In the chitosan-treated group, serum creatinine levels were lower as compared to controls [0.63±0.13 (mean±SD, n=90) vs. 1.14 ± 0.21 mg/dl]. A significant decrease in average serum urea level was also observed after 28 days of chitosan ingestion by the mice in the treatment group [27.45±2.53 (mean±SD, n=90) vs. 39.68±2.47 mg/dl].Conclusion- Daily consumption of chitosan significantly reduced the serum creatinine and urea levels in mice, although there are no confirmed explanations for these effects. This work also provides an insight to the perspectives for using chitosan in clinical practice.