Aim: A low molecular weight chitosan (polyglucosamine, PG) was studied in overweight hyperlipemic patients under physical training. A double blind study was conducted in two groups of 30 patients (M/F; from 25 to 59 years).
Methods: Tablets containing PG (2 g/day) or placebo were given for a 4-month period during a physical training (+8 MET-hours/week). Anthropometric measures, caloric intake, blood pressure, LDL and HDL cholesterol, blood glucose and triacylglycerol were measured before and after the treatment. The groups were similar for the caloric intake and expenditure and ended up with positive results in most of the parameters examined.
Results: In PG group compared to placebo a more significant (P<0.05, t test) reduction was found for body weight (respectively 6.9+/-1.87 vs 3.0+/-1.61 kg), waist circumference (7.3+/-2.49 vs 3.1+/-4.21 cm), LDL cholesterol (44+/-14.7 vs 12.5+/-12.6 mg/dL), triacylglycerol (52+/-29.3 vs 39+/-15.2 mg/dL); HDL increase was also higher (6+/-3.6 vs and 3+/-4.2 mg/dL). At baseline metabolic syndrome (MS) according to ATP III was present in 15 and 14 patients respectively in the group PG and placebo.
Conclusions: Unexpectedly, at the end of the treatment MS was reduced in 12 cases of the PG group and in 3 cases only of the placebo group (P<0.05). Results indicate that PG may improve the effect of the physical training in moderately overweight patients with dyslipidemia and may be of some help in the treatment of MS.