" In the U.S., chitosan constitutes a mixture of approximately7% chitin plus approximately 93% chitosan. Outside of cost-effectiveness, the biological effects of chitin produced from each source appears identical. "Chitosan oligosaccharides (CO) takes chitosan a big step further," Matsunaga (2007 explains. "When CC is ingested, a small amount of it is broken down into very small molecular particles by the enzymes of the body, thus producing CO. CO can also be manufactured by using an enzymatic process" (Matsunaga, as cited in Levine, p. 1). The body more readily absorbs CO, although CO contains less fiber than regular CC.
In Case History 1: Low Pulmonary (Lung) Function, Matsunaga (Levine, 2007) treats his first patient, also his father, with the administration of CC. Previous treatments had yielded no results for Matsunaga's father who suffered from diminished lung function, which resulted from lung surgery to treat tuberculosis 30 years previously. Dependent on an oxygen tank, Matsunnaga's father could only walk a few steps each day. "After taking only two capsules of chitosan twice per day (a total of 120 mg) for one week, Matsunaga's father was able to walk around the house without his oxygen tank" (Levine,, p. 1). By the tenth day, Matsunaga's father could leave the house. He quit taking medications, yet he did not experience any adverse effects; living three years of additional improved health and life quality before he died at age 81.
Matsunaga (Levine, 2007) describes Case History 2, relating details of a patient with skin cancer. Other doctors had recommended that the ear lobe of the 75-year-old man, with skin cancer on his ear, had to be removed. Once more, following a myriad of ineffective treatments, Matsunaga prescribed the identical dosage he had given to his father; 2 caps of chitosan 2x per day. The cancer reportedly started to shrink within one week. Following four more days of treatment with chitosan, the cancer completely disappeared. As a result of the impressive results, Matsunaga began to implemtn the use of chitosan on a wider scale in his clinical practice; carefully documenting detail. Typically, "he found that weak patients became stronger, and healthy patients became healthier; that often symptoms resistant to medications were alleviated; common daily complaints such as constipation, shoulder stiffness, low back pain, etc., disappeared" (Levine, p. 1). Patients generally were able to reduce their medication dosages by an average of 30%; lessening side effects experienced from medication. The quality of life for those terminally ill patients treated with chitosan also significantly improved, Matsunaga reports.
From his studies, Matsunaga (Levine, 2007) found that chitosan proved effective in treating a wide variety of health conditions. These conditions included: "Circulatory and heart diseases, dermatoligical diseases (atopic dermatitis, etc.), opthamological (eye) conditions, ENT (ear, nose & throat) conditions, hemorrhoids, and a multitude of problems affecting all organs of the body" (p.1). In 1982, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Fishery, in response to the as massive piles of unused crab shells accumulating at numerous crab meat processing plants, the Japanese government initiated a ten-year project to develop ways to utilize unused biomass. Following the funding of a six billion dollar grant by the Ministry of Education for "A New Extension of Basic and Clinical Researchers on Chitin-Chitosan and Their Enzymes," 13 universities began research relating to chitosan. Findings from some the research during this time included:
Animal Studies
Cholesterol & Liver Health: Findings revealed that "CC lowered cholesterol and neutral fats, and prevented liver dysfunction." The livers of the group not treated with CC appeared inflamed and fatty livers. The livers of the chitosan group, albeit, appeared completely normal. Findings from a number of animal studies revealed that CC absorbs LDLcholesterol and transports it out of the body through the intestines. It also raises HDL cholesterol (Levine,, 2007, p. 2).
Cancer
CC reportedly possess anticancer action, and prevents metastases of cancer cells; studies reported that macrophage and natural killer cells were strengthened. (Levine, 2007, p. 2).
Blood Pressure
As chitosan inhibits ACE activity, it removes chlorine, and in turn, no hypertension results (Levine,, 2007, p. 2).
Table 1 depicts a summary of several abstracts reflecting extensive research on chitosan-oligosaccharide, along with numerous potential benefits for health:
Table 1: Comparison of Chiosan-oligosaccharide Studies (adapted from Levine,, 2007, p. 2).
Author(s), Date
Title of Study
Purpose/Method
Results of Study
H.W. Lee, Y.S. Park, J.S. Jung & W.S. Shin;
Chitosan oligosaccharides, dp 2-8, have prebiotic effect on the Bifidobacterium bifidium and Lacto-bacillus sp.
To investigate the prebiotic potential of chitosan oligosaccharide (COS), the effect of COS on bacterial growth was studied... The effects of COS on the growth of bifidobacteria and lactic acid bacteria were compared with those of fructooligosaccharide (FOS).
Chitosan oligosaccharide can promote the growth of friendly bifidobacteria and lactobacillus. Unlike fructooligo saccharides (FOS), which promote the growth of only three probiotic strains, chitosan oligosaccharide supports almost all bifido- and...
This could hardly be seen as a way to lower the healthcare costs of people in this country. Still, though, it is apparent that something must be done. Healthcare is extremely expensive anymore, and there are more and more people in this country that no longer have health insurance. Because of the lack of insurance that is available to these people, they do not go to the doctor when they
Oral candidiasis is primarily caused by Candida albicans, in which yeast adheres to the buccal epithelial cellular surface during the earliest phase of infection. This process is predominantly implicated by the hydrophobicity of fungus on the cell surface. The infection process is enabled by penetration of Candida albicans into the oral tissue, which is facilitated by secretion of exoenzymes and the development of hyphae (Calamari et al., 2011). Following limited exposure
Cutaneous Candidiasis: A Case Study Candidiasis This case study involves a 35-year-old woman diagnosed with candidiasis of the inner thighs. The goal of this report is to provide the patient with information about the most likely cause of her condition and how best to resolve the infection. In order to accomplish this goal a review of Candida pathogenesis will be presented first. Candida Pathogenesis Members of the Candida genus, in particular C. albicans, can
It is commonly associated with Staphylococcus aureus (2011). "Studies have shown that 20% of all cases are caused by Candida albicans alone, 60% are caused by a combination of Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans, and 20% are caused by Staphylococcus aureus alone" (2011). Angular cheilitis can be found in any age group and can be diagnosed by an "erythematous, fissured area" (RDH 2011) are the corners of the mouth. The
Oral Health Seniors have specific oral health needs. Meeting those needs requires an increase in personal hygiene, an improvement in lifestyle habits, and an increase in oral health service use. When these core needs are met, the specific oral health issues that affect seniors can be minimized, leading to improved health outcomes. Increasing personal hygiene requires shifts in attitudes toward oral health care, access to information, and access to affordable oral
Aureus Current Areas of Research Much of the current research on staphylococcus aureus centers on the emergence of antibiotic-resistance strains. In particular, the resistant strain MRSA is resistant to methicillin and related drugs. This has created a number of issues for medical practitioners, as staph infections are one of the more common infections that occur in a health setting. One of the threads of research in this regard concerns the spread of staph
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now