INCREASING EFFECT OF A CHITOSAN AND ASCORBIC-ACID MIXTURE ON FECAL DIETARY-FAT EXCRETION

Rats were fed for 2 weeks on five different high-fat diets containing cellulose (control) or chitosan with and without organic acids (i.e., ascorbic, lactic and citric acids) as the dietary fiber. The apparent fat digestibility in the chitosan-receiving groups was significantly l ower than in the control group. The addition of ascorbic acid to chito san caused a larger increase in the fecal fat excretion than otherwise , without considerably affecting the apparent protein digestibility. T he effect is thought to have occurred because chitosan was so well dis solved and mixed with fat by the action of ascorbic acid that it encap sulated fine fat droplets on its gel after contacting the pancreatic j uice in the samll intestine. The intake of a mixture of chitosan and a scorbic acid is suitable for reducing excess fat.