Abstract
Chitosan is a polysaccharide produced by deacetylation of chitin in mushroom cell walls and exoskeletons of crustaceans. In this study, we examined the effects of mushroom chitosan (chitosan made from Flammulina velutipes) on hyperlipidemia and obesity in an animal obesity model comprising Zucker fatty rats. Mushroom chitosan administered to Zucker fatty rat groups led to a significant reduction in body weight, as well as a decrease of lipid accumulation in liver and an increased lipid excretion rate in feces. Triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels decreased significantly as shown by blood biochemical testing. Mushroom chitosan also led to improvement of blood lipid metabolism and inhibition of lipid accumulation in the liver. The mechanism of these effects involved both inhibition of lipid absorption from the intestine and lipolysis in adipose cells. Our results suggest that mushroom chitosan is effective for reducing the risk of both obesity and metabolic syndrome.
