本研究之目的是探討服用幾丁聚醣對高血脂症患者的血脂質和礦物質鈣、鎂以及鐵之影響。對象為高血脂症患者,篩選標準為總膽固醇>200 mg/dL以上或三酸甘油酯>200 mg/dL。實驗設計共分成三組,每組20人,實驗組分別給予300毫克的水溶性幾丁聚醣或非水溶性幾丁聚醣之錠劑,每日三次,每次各兩片,另一組為安慰劑組,皆於飯前服用,並按原飲食習慣攝食,實驗期間受試者必須停止降血脂藥物。在實驗前、實驗第4週和第8週時,進行體位測量、採血分析及尿液檢查,並於當週做3天飲食紀錄。結果發現,服用幾丁聚醣會顯著降低高血脂症患者的血清總膽固醇和低密度脂蛋白膽固醇濃度,但對血清三酸甘油酯和高密度脂蛋白膽固醇濃度沒有影響,服用幾丁聚醣也不會影響患者的血清鈣和血清鎂濃度、尿鈣和尿鎂排泄量;服用水溶性幾丁聚醣8週後,會使血清運鐵蛋白(transferrin)和平均紅血球紅色素(MCHC)濃度顯著下降。所有受試者於實驗期間之總熱量和三大營養素攝取量與實驗前無差異。因此,服用幾丁聚醣不論水溶性或非水溶性的八週後可顯著降低血清總膽固醇和低密度脂蛋白膽固醇濃度,但服用水溶性幾丁聚醣會使血清運鐵蛋白和MCHC有下降的趨勢。
The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of dietary chitosan on the blood lipid profiles, serum calcium, serum magnesium, and serum iron status in hyperlipidemic patients who were serum total cholesterol > 200 mg/dL or triglycerides > 200 mg/dL. The patients divided into three groups, two treatment groups administered water-soluble chitosan or water-insoluble chitosan, and one placebo group, orally and received two tablets, three times a day before meals, for 8 weeks. Before the trial and at 4 and 8 weeks of treatment, anthropometric measurements and diet records and fasting blood were analyzed, and 24 hour urine samples were collected. Ingestion of chitosan significantly reduced serum total cholesterol and LDL-C levels after 4 weeks compared to baseline, and after 8 weeks serum triglyceride and HDL-C levels compared to baseline did not change significantly. Significant reductions in mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and serum transferrin levels but still in normal range were observed after 8 weeks of water-soluble chitosan ingestion. Serum calcium, serum magnesium, urinary calcium and magnesium excretion showed no significant difference among three groups. Chitosan might be effective treatment for hyperlipidemia patients but supplement of water-soluble chitosan reduce serum transferrin and MCHC.