title: Chitin-glucan fiber effects on oxidized low-density lipoprotein: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Elevated oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL) may promote inflammation, and is associated with increased risk of atherosclerotic coronary heart disease and worsening complications of diabetes mellitus. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of chitin-glucan (CG), alone and in combination with a potentially anti-inflammatory olive oil (OO) extract, for reducing OxLDL in subjects with borderline to high LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  This 6-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of a novel, insoluble fiber derived from the Aspergillus niger mycelium, CG, evaluated 130 subjects free of diabetes mellitus with fasting LDL-C 3.37-4.92 mmol/l and glucose ≤ 6.94 mmol/l. Participants were randomly assigned to receive CG (4.5 g/day; n=33), CG (1.5 g/day; n=32), CG (1.5 g/day) plus OO extract (135 mg/day; n=30), or matching placebo (n=35).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Administration of 4.5 g/day CG for 6 weeks significantly reduced OxLDL compared with placebo (P=0.035). At the end of study, CG was associated with lower LDL-C levels relative to placebo, although this difference was statistically significant only for the CG 1.5 g/day group (P=0.019). CG did not significantly affect high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, insulin or F2-isoprostane levels. Adverse events did not substantively differ between treatments and placebo.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this 6-week study, CG (4.5 g/day) reduced OxLDL, an effect that might affect the risk for atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Louisville Metabolic and Atherosclerosis Research Center, Louisville, KY, USA.
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Bays
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Maki
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Maquet
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002686:Chitin / Q000737:chemistry*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D005936:Glucans / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015146:Midwestern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D031658:Olea / Q000737:chemistry; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D056692:Prebiotics / Q000009:adverse effects; D012306:Risk
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D005936:Glucans; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011134:Polysaccharides; D056692:Prebiotics; C029182:glucanchitin; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; D002686:Chitin