CONTINUOUS AND MASSIVE INTAKE OF CHITOSAN AFFECTS MINERAL AND FAT-SOLUBLE VITAMIN STATUS IN RATS FED ON A HIGH-FAT DIET

We investigated the effects of continuous and massive intake of chitos an with sodium ascorbate (AsN) on the mineral and the fat-soluble vita min status in male Sprague-Dawley rats fed on a high-fat diet. The app arent fat digestibility in the chitosan-receiving group was significan tly lower than that in the cellulose- or glucosamine-receiving group. Chitosan feeding for 2 weeks caused a decrease in mineral absorption a nd bone mineral content, and it was necessary to administer twice the amount of Ca in the AIN-76 formula, which was supplemented with AsN, t o prevent such a decrease in the bone mineral content, Moreover, the i ngestion of chitosan along with AsN led to a marked and rapid decrease in the serum vitamin E level, while such a loss in vitamin E was not observed for rats given glucosamine monomer instead of chitosan.