EFFECT OF CHITOSAN ON RENAL-FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC-RENAL-FAILURE

The effects of chitosan have been investigated on eighty patients with renal failure undergoing long-term stable haemodialysis treatment. Th e patients were tested after a control treatment period of 1 week. Hal f were fed 30 chitosan tablets (45 mg chitosan/tablet) three times a d ay. Ingestion of chitosan effectively reduced total serum cholesterol levels (from 10.14 +/- 4.40 to 5.82 +/- 2.19 mM) and increased serum h aemoglobin levels (from 58.2 +/- 12.1 to 68 +/- 9.0 g L-1). Significan t reductions in urea and creatinine levels in serum were observed afte r 4 weeks of chitosan ingestion. The feeling of physical strength, the appetite and the sleep of patients in the treatment group had improve d significantly after 12 weeks of ingestion, compared with those of pa tients in the control group. During the treatment period, no clinicall y problematic symptoms were observed. These data suggest that chitosan might be effective treatment for renal failure patients, although the mechanism of the effect should be investigated further.