Abstract:
The present invention related to a composition comprising an aqueous soluble-chitosan and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Said composition can be used to increase lipase activity while having no harm in animal physiology. Together with the well known biocompatibility of chitosan, the present invention proves that the aqueous soluble-chitosan may be a potential candidate for body weight control.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present invention is related to a composition for body fat consumption, especially by using chitosan. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Obesity is the most common lifestyle-related diseases in modern society. More and more evidences reveal that obesity is a key risk factor in lots of diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, etc. In consideration of improving citizen health and relieving the financial burden of national health insurance, the government keeps advocating the importance of controlling body weight. In this regards, some health indexes, such as Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist-Hip Ratio (WHR) are used as a measurement for body weight control. 
         [0005]    It has been gathered long-time interests to develop novel drugs or reagents to help people lose weight. Unfortunately, there is still lack of such drugs or reagents with high efficiency and low side effects so far. The situation could be worse as since the importance of body weight control has been acknowledged while no effective and safe drugs are available, people may easily believe in unconfirmed folk prescription and taking some unproved drugs before permission from the authority. It not only has no help in losing weight but also puts their health and life in dangerous. Therefore, there is a constant demand for a composition that has high efficiency in body fat consumption and low side effects. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    One object of the present invention is to provide a novel composition has good efficiency in body fat consumption and has fewer side effects to animal physiology. 
         [0007]    In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a composition for body fat consumption, comprising: 0.1 to 80 wt % of an aqueous soluble-chitosan; and 1 to 50 wt % of a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
         [0008]    The present invention also provides a method for increasing the activity of adipose triglyceride lipase of a subject of high fat diet, comprising: applying a subject an effective amount of an aqueous soluble-chitosan. 
         [0009]    The present invention also provides a method for treating obesity, comprising: applying a subject suffering obesity an effective amount of an aqueous soluble-chitosan. 
         [0010]    Preferably, said aqueous soluble-chitosan has a molecular weight of 0.3 to 1,500 kDa; more preferably, said aqueous soluble-chitosan has a molecular weight of 0.5 to 300 kDa. 
         [0011]    Preferably, said aqueous soluble-chitosan is a chitosan modified by alkyl sultone. More preferably, said alkyl sultone is 1,3-propanesultone, 1,4-propylenesultone, 1,4-butanesultone, 2,4-butanesultone, or a mixture thereof 
         [0012]    Preferably, said aqueous soluble-chitosan is a sulfonic acid-modified chitosan. 
         [0013]    Preferably, said effective amount is 1 to 500 mg/kg BW. 
         [0014]    To sum up, the present invention surprisingly found that the aqueous soluble-chitosan has superior effect on body fat consumption which is due to its ability to increase adipose triglyceride lipase activity. Furthermore, the aqueous soluble-chitosan shows no harm in animal physiology. Together with the biocompatibility of chitosan, the present invention proves that the aqueous soluble-chitosan is a potential candidate for body weight control. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  shows the effects of AS-CH on the body weight gain percent in HFD rats. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  shows the effects of AS-CH on the adipose triglyceride lipase activity in HFD rats. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    The term “body fat consumption” herein is referred to a process to consume the body fat of a subject. In other words, said “body fat consumption” is different from preventing body fat “formation” in a subject, which is typically achieved by blocking lipid uptake in the intestine tract. Chitosan has been known in the field to have the effects in physically blocking lipid uptake in the intestine tract so that may be useful for preventing body fat formation. Nevertheless, the potential effect of chitosan or an aqueous soluble-chitosan (like the one disclosed in the present invention) in body fat consumption is completely unknown before the present invention. In fact, there is no any lecture or publication implying that chitosan or an aqueous soluble-chitosan may have effects in influencing the activity of enzymes inside a human body (by definition, enzyme secreted in the intestine tract are not “inside” a human body). 
         [0018]    The term “high fat diet” herein is referred to a diet which provides fat as the source of 30% of the total energy needed for a subject per day (See Dictionary of Sport and Exercise Science and Medicine by Churchill Livingstone© 2008 Elsevier Limited). 
       Embodiment 1 
     Preparation of Aqueous Soluble-Chitosan 
       [0019]    The aqueous soluble-chitosan of the present invention is chitosan modified by alkyl sultone. Examples of alkyl sultone include but not limited to 1,3-propanesultone, 1,4-propylenesultone, 1,4-butanesultone, 2,4-butanesultone, or a mixture thereof. More specifically, the aqueous soluble-chitosan of the present invention is a sulfonic acid-modified chitosan. For example, the aqueous soluble-chitosan is alkyl sulfonic acid-modified chitosan. The alkyl sulfonic acid-modified chitosan may be fabricated by the following procedures: 
         [0020]    161 gram of chitosan (with molecular weight of 140,000) was put into a flask, and 700 ml of methanol was added in to obtain a mixture. The mixture was heated at 65 to 67° C., and 122 gram of 1,3-propanesultone was slowly dropped in while stirring. The mixture was kept refluxing for 4 hours after all 1,3-oxathiolane was added in. Then the flask was cooled down to room temperature, and product (alkyl sulfonic acid-modified chitosan) was collected by filtering. The product was washed by methanol from several times and dried overnight in a vacuum oven. The dried product was weighted 282 gram. The yield rate of the alkyl sulfonic acid-modified chitosan was 99.7%. 
       Embodiment 2 
     Experiment Design of Animal Model 
       [0021]    The experiment was conducted by using 4-weeks old weaned Sprague-Dawley rats (purchased from BioLASCO Taiwan Co., Ltd). 64 rats were randomly separated into 8 groups. Each group had 8 rats. The experimental rats were maintained in plastic cages with free access to food and water. The temperature of those cages were kept at 25±1° C., and the day-night cycle was 12 hours per day. For experiments, the rats were fed with normal diet (AIN-93G, ICN Biomedicals, Costa Mesa, Calif., USA) then administrated water or fed with high calorie diet to induce obesity (Modify AIN-93G high fat diet, 20% lipid) for 4 weeks before the administration of water or chitosan or aqueous soluble-chitosan prepared in Embodiment 1. Beginning from the fifth week, the experimental rats were fed with various dosages (10 or 25 mg/kg body weight (BW)) of unmodified chitosan or aqueous soluble-chitosan on every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Chitosan or aqueous soluble-chitosan was resolved in sterile water before feeding. One group of normal diet rats and one group of high calorie diet rats were instead fed with water as control groups. The experimental period was 8 to 12 weeks (the experiments were stopped depending on when the body weight of control groups and test groups show significant difference). The body weight and feeding amount (food intake) of the animals under experiments were measured and recorded every week. 
         [0022]    The experimental animals were to be sacrificed by applying carbon dioxide after 12 weeks. Before sacrificing, those animals were starved for 12 hours. The rats&#39; blood, livers, hearts, spleens, kidneys, and colons were collected for biochemical analysis and pathology study. Also, the adipose tissues of rat were collected for determining the amount of body fat and analyzing the activity of lipase. 
       Embodiment 3 
     Experimental Results 
     [Blood Lipid Analysis] 
       [0023]    The concentration of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) in blood were examined. Briefly, the blood to be examined was collected from abdominal aorta and was examined by enzymatic method and colorimetry method. The results are shown in Table 1 (ND: normal diet; HFD: high fat diet; CH: chitosan (unmodified); AS-CH: aqueous soluble-chitosan (the present invention); L: low dosage (10 mg/kg BW); H: high dosage (25 mg/kg BW)). 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Effects of AS-CH on the blood lipid of HFD rats 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 TG 
                 TC 
                 HDL 
                 LDL 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 mg/dL 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 ND 
                 58 ± 8.4 d    
                 55 ± 2.5 abc   
                 56.9 ± 7.4 a   
                  10.1 ± 2.7 ab   
               
               
                 HFD 
                 103 ± 3.0 a     
                 69 ± 11.0 a    
                   47.1 ± 10.0 ab   
                 15.0 ± 3.2 a   
               
               
                 AS-CH or CH 
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 CH (L) 
                     88 ± 5.3 abc   
                 56 ± 8.5 abc   
                 43.9 ± 6.0 b   
                 15.4 ± 3.6 a   
               
               
                 CH (H) 
                 96 ± 3.8 ab   
                 56 ± 5.6 abc   
                  45.9 ± 7.0 ab   
                 14.4 ± 3.5 a   
               
               
                 AS-CH (L) 
                 81 ± 9.9 bc   
                 45 ± 5.7 c      
                 40.8 ± 7.7 b   
                  8.3 ± 1.5 b   
               
               
                 AS-CH (H) 
                 74 ± 8.9 cd   
                 48 ± 6.0 bc    
                  46.2 ± 8.5 ab   
                  8.3 ± 1.2 b   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 SD (Sprague Dawley ®) rats were orally administered with various dosages AS-CH (10 or 25 mg/kg BW) for 8 wks. Data is expressed as means ± SD (n = 8). Significance of difference in activities of different compounds was evaluated by Tukey&#39;s test statistical analysis. Different superscript letters  a, b, c, d  blood lipid are statistically different from each other (p &lt; 0.05). 
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0024]    The results showed that by applying the aqueous soluble-chitosan of the present invention, the blood TG, TC and LDL was lowered down while HDL (so called ‘good lipoprotein’) remained. 
       [Liver TG &amp; TC Analysis] 
       [0025]    After the blood was collected, the liver was washed by saline and the TG and TC therein were extracted by the method taught by Folch et al. (Folch et al., 1957) for analysis. The results are shown in Table 2 (ND: normal diet; HFD: high fat diet; CH: chitosan (unmodified); AS-CH: aqueous soluble-chitosan (the present invention); L: low dosage (10 mg/kg BW); H: high dosage (25 mg/kg BW)). 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Effects of AS-CH on the liver TG and TC of HFD rats 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 TG 
                 TC 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 mg/dL 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 ND 
                 109 ± 11 b   
                 16.0 ± 2.3 c    
               
               
                 HFD 
                 153 ± 15 a   
                 26.4 ± 1.7 ab   
               
               
                 AS-CH or CH 
                   
                   
               
               
                 CH (L) 
                 152 ± 21 a   
                 22.0 ± 7.0 bc   
               
               
                 CH (H) 
                     135 ± 16 ab   
                     25.8 ± 2.2 abc   
               
               
                 AS-CH (L) 
                 119 ± 12 b   
                 19.6 ± 7.4 bc   
               
               
                 AS-CH (H) 
                 114 ± 12 b   
                 22.0 ± 2.0 bc   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 SD rats were orally administered with various dosages AS-CH (10 or 25 mg/kg BW) for 8 wks. Data is expressed as means ± SD (n = 8). Significance of difference in activities of different compounds was evaluated by Tukey&#39;s test statistical analysis. Different superscript letters  a, b, c  blood lipid are statistically different from each other (p &lt; 0.05). 
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0026]    The results indicated that the liver TG and TC level of the groups administrated with the aqueous soluble-chitosan of the present invention were recovered back to normal standard as comparing with the control group of normal diet rats. 
       [Blood Sugar Analysis] 
       [0027]    After starvation for 12 hours, the experimental animals were anesthetized by ether. Then the blood was collected from abdominal aorta for analyzing the blood sugar level by enzymatic method and colorimetry method. The results are shown in Table 3 (ND: normal diet; HFD: high fat diet; CH: chitosan (unmodified); AS-CH: aqueous soluble-chitosan (the present invention); L: low dosage (10 mg/kg BW); H: high dosage (25 mg/kg BW)). 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 3 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Effects of AS-CH on the blood sugar of HFD rats 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                   
                 Blood sugar 
               
               
                   
                   
                 mg/dL 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 ND 
                 163 ± 27.7 
               
               
                   
                 HFD 
                 185 ± 19.6 
               
               
                   
                 AS-CH or CH 
                   
               
               
                   
                 CH (L) 
                 172 ± 15.4 
               
               
                   
                 CH (H) 
                 173 ± 23.0 
               
               
                   
                 AS-CH (L) 
                 191 ± 28.7 
               
               
                   
                 AS-CH (H) 
                 168 ± 37.9 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 SD rats were orally administered with various dosages AS-CH (10 or 25 mg/kg BW) for 8 wks. Data is expressed as means ± SD (n = 8). 
               
             
          
         
       
     
       [Hepatic &amp; Kidney Function Analysis] 
       [0028]    The AST (aspartate aminotransferase), ALT (alanine transaminase), creatinine, uric acid were detected by enzymatic method and colorimetry method for determining the hepatic function. The results are shown in Table 4 (ND: normal diet; HFD: high fat diet; CH: chitosan (unmodified); AS-CH: aqueous soluble-chitosan (the present invention); L: low dosage (10 mg/kg BW); H: high dosage (25 mg/kg BW)). 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 4 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Effects of AS-CH on the function of hepatic and kidney of HFD rats 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 AST 
                 ALT 
                 Creatinine 
                 Uric acid 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 U/L (Units per liter) 
                 mg/dLc 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 ND 
                 162 ± 27.7 
                 47.5 ± 8.01 
                 0.53 ± 0.07 
                 3.44 ± 0.98 
               
               
                 HFD 
                 145 ± 35.3 
                 49.0 ± 7.78 
                 0.51 ± 0.08 
                 4.56 ± 0.69 
               
               
                 AS-CH or CH 
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 CH (L) 
                 176 ± 41.6 
                 49.6 ± 9.24 
                 0.54 ± 0.05 
                 4.90 ± 0.88 
               
               
                 CH (H) 
                 159 ± 32.2 
                 44.1 ± 7.71 
                 0.50 ± 0.08 
                 4.27 ± 0.91 
               
               
                 AS-CH (L) 
                 172 ± 34.9 
                  66.6 ± 18.99 
                 0.54 ± 0.05 
                 4.77 ± 0.38 
               
               
                 AS-CH (H) 
                 161 ± 38.1 
                  58.1 ± 25.68 
                 0.47 ± 0.05 
                 4.45 ± 0.71 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 SD rats were orally administered with various dosages AS-CH (10 or 25 mg/kg BW) for 8 wks. Data is expressed as means ± SD (n = 8). 
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0029]    It was shown that the administration of the aqueous soluble-chitosan of the present invention had no harm on the liver and kidney function of the experimental animals. 
       [Ketone Bodies and Electrolyte Balance Analysis] 
       [0030]    After starvation for 12 hours, the experimental animals were anesthetized by ether. Then the blood was collected from abdominal aorta for analyzing the concentration of ketone bodies, Na +  ion and K +  ion in the blood by enzymatic method and colorimetry method. The results are shown in Table 5 (ND: normal diet; HFD: high fat diet; CH: chitosan (unmodified); AS-CH: aqueous soluble-chitosan (the present invention); L: low dosage (10 mg/kg BW); H: high dosage (25 mg/kg BW)). 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 5 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Effects of AS-CH on the electrolyte  
               
               
                 balance and ketone bodies in HFD rats 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Na +   
                 K +   
                 Ketone bodies 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 mEq/L* 
                 nmole 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 ND 
                 150 ± 3.06 ab   
                 7.73 ± 1.4 ab   
                 0.96 ± 0.34 
               
               
                 HFD 
                 151 ± 1.33 a    
                 6.92 ± 0.5 ab   
                 1.04 ± 0.35 
               
               
                 AS-CH or CH 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 CH (L) 
                 150 ± 0.92 ab   
                 7.23 ± 1.0 ab   
                 1.25 ± 0.43 
               
               
                 CH (H) 
                 149 ± 1.25 ab   
                 8.16 ± 0.7 a    
                 1.02 ± 0.28 
               
               
                 AS-CH (L) 
                 148 ± 1.63 b    
                 8.39 ± 0.3 a    
                 1.08 ± 0.51 
               
               
                 AS-CH (H) 
                 150 ± 1.33 ab   
                 7.30 ± 1.2 ab   
                 0.99 ± 0.13 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 *mEq/L: molar concentration of ion per liter 
               
               
                 SD rat was orally administered with various dosages AS-CH (10 or 25 mg/kg BW) for 8 wks. Data is expressed as means ± SD (n = 8). Significance of difference in activities of different compounds was evaluated by Tukey&#39;s test statistical analysis. Different superscript letters  a, b,  electrolyte balance are statistically different from each other (p &lt; 0.05). 
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0031]    By summarizing with the data in Table 3, Table 4, and Table 5, the administration of the aqueous soluble-chitosan of the present invention, especially when administrating high dosage to the rats, the blood sugar of high diet rats can be reduced to the same blood sugar level of the ND group, and would not affect the ketone bodies and electrolyte balance in the blood. Also, it was shown that the administration of the aqueous soluble-chitosan of the present invention had no harm on the liver and kidney function of the experimental animals. 
       [Analysis for Food Intake, Body Weight, and Feed Bioavailability] 
       [0032]    As mentioned in the aforementioned paragraphs, the body weight (BW) and food intake of the experimental animals were recorded regularly. Based on the recorded body weight, the change in body weight was calculated. Moreover, the feed efficiency was also calculated according to the formula: Feed Efficiency=(Body Weight Gain/Food Intake)×100%. Also, the organ weight was examined. 
         [0033]    The results are shown in Tables 6-9 and  FIG. 1  (ND: normal diet; HFD: high fat diet; CH: chitosan (unmodified); AS-CH: aqueous soluble-chitosan (the present invention); L: low dosage (10 mg/kg BW); H: high dosage (25 mg/kg BW)). 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 6 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Effects of AS-CH on the food intake and body weight of HFD rats 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Food intake *  
                   
               
               
                   
                 (g/day) 
                 Body weight (g) 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 8 wks 
                 16 wks 
                 0 wks 
                 8 wks 
                 16 wks 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 ND 
                 30.8 
                 29.4 
                 111 ± 8   
                 352 ± 18 c   
                 459 ± 36 c   
               
               
                 HFD 
                 21.5 
                 22.6 
                 116 ± 5.5 
                 520 ± 31 a   
                  753 ± 24. a   
               
               
                 AS-CH or CH 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 CH (L) 
                 19.9 
                 16.9 
                  107 ± 10.8 
                 421 ± 31 b   
                 585 ± 57 b   
               
               
                 CH (H) 
                 21.4 
                 16.3 
                 113 ± 6.1 
                 424 ± 31 b   
                 602 ± 51 b   
               
               
                 AS-CH (L) 
                 21.8 
                 16.9 
                 115 ± 7.3 
                 440 ± 14 b   
                 602 ± 61 b   
               
               
                 AS-CH (H) 
                 20.1 
                 13.5 
                  110 ± 15.0 
                 432 ± 21 b   
                 598 ± 62 b   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 * Data was the average of all groups 
               
               
                 SD rats were orally administered with various dosages AS-CH (10 or 25 mg/kg BW) for 8 wks. Data is expressed as means ± SD (n = 8). Significance of difference in activities of different compounds was evaluated by Tukey&#39;s test statistical analysis. Different superscript letters  a, b, c  body weight are statistically different from each other (p &lt; 0.05) 
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 7 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Effects of AS-CH on the body weight 
               
               
                 gain percent of HFD rats 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                   
                 Body weight 
                 Change  
               
               
                   
                   
                 gain (%) 
                 percentage (%) 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                   
                 8 wks 
                 16 wks 
                 16-8 wks 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 ND 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
               
               
                   
                 HFD 
                 48 
                 64 
                 16 
               
               
                   
                 AS-CH or CH 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 CH (L) 
                 20 
                 27 
                 8 
               
               
                   
                 CH (H) 
                 20 
                 31 
                 11 
               
               
                   
                 AS-CH (L) 
                 25 
                 31 
                 6 
               
               
                   
                 AS-CH (H) 
                 23 
                 30 
                 8 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 SD rat was orally administered with various dosages AS-CH (10 or 25 mg/kg BW) for 8 wks. Data is expressed as means ± SD (n = 8). 
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 8 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Effects of AS-CH on the feed  
               
               
                 bioavailability of HFD rats 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                   
                 Feed bioavailability 
               
               
                   
                   
                 % 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 ND 
                 363.9 
               
               
                   
                 HFD 
                 1029.8 
               
               
                   
                 AS-CH or CH 
                   
               
               
                   
                 CH (L) 
                 967.5 
               
               
                   
                 CH (H) 
                 1091.2 
               
               
                   
                 AS-CH (L) 
                 965.2 
               
               
                   
                 AS-CH (H) 
                 1232.4 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 SD rats were orally administered with various dosages AS-CH (10 or 25 mg/kg BW) for 8 wks. Data is expressed as means ± SD (n = 8). 
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 9 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Effects of AS-CH on the organ weight of HFD rats 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Heart 
                 Liver 
                 Spleen 
                 Kidney 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 % of body weight 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 ND 
                 0.29 ± 0.02 
                 2.88 ± 0.09 b   
                 0.14 ± 0.02 
                 0.69 ± 0.01 
               
               
                 HFD 
                 0.25 ± 0.03 
                 3.45 ± 0.23 a   
                 0.10 ± 0.01 
                 0.62 ± 0.04 
               
               
                 AS-CH or CH 
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 CH (L) 
                 0.29 ± 0.02 
                 2.90 ± 0.23 b   
                 0.12 ± 0.02 
                 0.62 ± 0.09 
               
               
                 CH (H) 
                 0.27 ± 0.02 
                     3.18 ± 0.19 ab   
                 0.14 ± 0.02 
                 0.62 ± 0.04 
               
               
                 AS-CH (L) 
                 0.28 ± 0.02 
                 2.97 ± 0.09 b   
                 0.13 ± 0.02 
                 0.60 ± 0.02 
               
               
                 AS-CH (H) 
                 0.29 ± 0.03 
                 2.94 ± 0.20 b   
                 0.12 ± 0.02 
                 0.64 ± 0.07 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 SD rats were orally administered with various dosages AS-CH (10 or 25 mg/kg BW) for 8 wks. Data is expressed as means ± SD (n = 8). Significance of difference in activities of different compounds was evaluated by Tukey&#39;s test statistical analysis. Different superscript letters  a, b,  organs weight are statistically different from each other (p &lt; 0.05). 
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0034]    The above results indicated that the administration of the aqueous soluble-chitosan of the present invention did not cause significant change in food intake, body weight gain, feed bioavailability and organ weight. 
       [Analysis for Body Fat Gain and Lipase Activity] 
       [0035]    The adipose tissues surrounded kidney and testis were collected and weighted. For determining the activity of adipose triglyceride lipase, 0.1 gram of the adipose tissues surrounded testis were washed with saline and dried by using filter paper. The washed tissues were homogenized by a homogenizer and then put into centrifugation. After centrifugation, the supernatant was taken for determining the activity of adipose triglyceride lipase. The results are shown in Table 10, Table 11 and  FIG. 2  (ND: normal diet; HFD: high fat diet; CH: chitosan (unmodified); AS-CH: aqueous soluble-chitosan (the present invention); L: low dosage (10 mg/kg BW); H: high dosage (25 mg/kg BW)). 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 10 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Effects of AS-CH on the body fat of HFD rats 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                   
                 Body fat 
               
               
                   
                   
                 % of body weight 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 ND 
                     3.30 ± 1.35 d   
               
               
                   
                 HFD 
                 12.14 ± 1.66 a    
               
               
                   
                 AS-CH or CH 
                   
               
               
                   
                 CH (L) 
                     8.33 ± 1.60 bc   
               
               
                   
                 CH (H) 
                     8.80 ± 1.00 b   
               
               
                   
                 AS-CH (L) 
                     7.66 ± 1.26 bc   
               
               
                   
                 AS-CH (H) 
                 6.21 ± 1.99 c   
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 SD rats were orally administered with various dosages AS-CH (10 or 25 mg/kg BW) for 8 wks. Data is expressed as means ± SD (n = 8). Significance of difference in activities of different compounds was evaluated by Tukey&#39;s test statistical analysis. Different superscript letters  a, b, c, d  organs weight are statistically different from each other (p &lt; 0.05). 
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 11 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Effects of AS-CH on the adipose triglyceride 
               
               
                 lipase activity of HFD rats 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                   
                 Lipase activity 
               
               
                   
                   
                 U/L 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 ND 
                 5.40 ± 1.46 b   
               
               
                   
                 HFD 
                 2.18 ± 0.61 c   
               
               
                   
                 AS-CH or CH 
                   
               
               
                   
                 CH (L) 
                 5.05 ± 1.23 b   
               
               
                   
                 CH (H) 
                     6.46 ± 1.02 ab   
               
               
                   
                 AS-CH (L) 
                     6.23 ± 0.97 ab   
               
               
                   
                 AS-CH (H) 
                 8.71 ± 0.54 a   
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 SD rats were orally administered with various dosages AS-CH (10 or 25 mg/kg BW) for 8 wks. Data is expressed as means ± SD (n = 8). Significance of difference in activities of different compounds was evaluated by Tukey&#39;s test statistical analysis. Different superscript letters  a, b, c  intestinal physiology are statistically different from each other (p &lt; 0.05). 
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0036]    It did not draw much attention in the field that chitosan or an aqueous soluble-chitosan may have the effect in increasing the activity of adipose triglyceride lipase inside human body because the researchers in the field have already known chitosan&#39;s effect in physically blocking lipid uptake in intestine tract. Less have considered the possibility that chitosan may participate in physiological mechanism of human body. The present invention, however, showed that it was noted that the aqueous soluble-chitosan of the present invention had a dosage-dependent effect on reducing body fat. This effect may due to its function on increasing the activity of adipose triglyceride lipase (see Table 11). As set forth in the previous paragraphs, this is the first research supporting chitosan or an aqueous soluble-chitosan&#39;s potential effect in increasing the activity of lipase inside human body and this participating the physiological mechanism of body fat consumption. 
         [0037]    Those having ordinary skill in the art can understand various modifications according to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the above-recited embodiments shall not be used to limit the present invention but shall intend to cover all modifications under the spirit and scope of the present invention along with the attached claims.