Hypocholesterolaemic effects of different chitosan samples in vitro and in vivo

This study determined the hypocholesterolaemic effects of chitosan preparations with different physicochemical properties. Chitosans with smaller particle size had better cholesterol-binding capacities. Chitosans exhibited potent hypocholesterolaemic effect in rats; those with higher degree of deacetylation and molecular weight seemed to reduce plasma triglyceride, total cholesterol and low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol levels and elevate the high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol level more effectively, although not all differences were significant. We concluded that the hypocholesterolaemic mechanism of chitosan was by adsorption, electrostatic force and entrapment.