Not only does Chitosol not always do what consumers hope it will. Ordering the stuff can also cause you to receive expensive services you don't want and didn't order.

Johanna of Covington, LA, writes:
I ordered the Chitosol diet aid over the phone. There is a 30-day return policy -- but the phone number doesn't work. The Beacon Marketing is only a mailing address. I am out $70 and have tried to return the stuff since 8-18-00. How do I get this off of my VISA and return the product?

Chitosol cannot be taken for four hours before or after taking any other prescribed medications. This was not explained on the TV ad. I must take three medications after my largest meal of the day. Also I experienced severe cramping the one time that I tried it. This product will not fit my medical needs. In good faith I am trying to return it for a refund.

Good luck. We doubt Johanna will ever see her $70 again. More importantly, she needs to see a qualified professional if she needs help losing weight. Tossing a coin would be better than listening to an infomercial. Our Nutrition page has some helpful links.

About Chitosan
Chitosol, it turns out, contains chitosan. At least one variety is manufactured by Now Foods of Bloomingdale, IL. The label makes referece to "Superior fat absorbing action with chromium." It's what scientists call a "non-nutritive substance," meaning that it has no known nutritional value whatsoever. It's roughly like eating sand in that respect.

It turns out this stuff is made from ground-up sea shells. More formally, it's described by its marketing mavens this way: "an acid-soluble and fat-absorbing compound that is molecularly similar to the long-chain carbohydrate molecules in cellulose... Chitosan is a deacetylated derivative of chitin; chitin is the polysaccharide structural component in crustacean shells. Chitosan is a positively charged dietary fiber that causes it to be lipophilic, meaning it binds to negatively charged fatty acids including cholesterol. Since chitosan is a fat absorber it will bind to desirable and undesirable fat, therefore it is advisable not to be ingested with fat-soluble nutrients such as vitamins A, E, D, K and essential fatty acids."