Comparative evaluation of fecal fat excretion induced by orlistat and chitosan

Objective: To compare the effects of chitosan and orlistat on fecal fat exc retion. Research Methods and Procedure: A randomized, open-label, two-period sequen tial design study was used. A total of 12 healthy adult volunteers within 2 0% of their ideal body weight entered a 7-day run-in diet period before bei ng randomized to orlistat (120 mg) or chitosan (890 mg) three times daily f or 7 days. Subjects then crossed over treatment regimens for an additional 7-day period. Subjects followed a standardized diet (2500 kcal/d, 30% as fa t) for the entire 21-day study. Feces were collected on days 4 to 7 of the run-in period (baseline) and during the two treatment periods. Mean daily f ecal fat excretion was measured at baseline and during each treatment regim en. Results: Mean baseline fecal fat excretion for all subjects was 1.36 +/- 0. 45 g/d. During orlistat treatment, mean fecal fat excretion significantly i ncreased from baseline (+16.13 +/- 7.27 g/d; p < 0.001). No significant eff ect was observed with chitosan (+0.27 +/- 1.02 g/d; p = 0.379). Fecal fat e xcretion was significantly greater with orlistat than-with chitosan (p < 0. 001; 95% confidence intervals: 11.73; 20.00 g/d). Discussion: This study provides additional evidence of the inhibitory effec t of orlistat on dietary fat absorption. Chitosan, however, has no effect o n fecal fat excretion.