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Dietary supplement

LipoSan Ultra Chitosan 500 mg Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Swanson Best Weight-Control Formulas

Capsule Category: Fiber And Other Nutrients
Most serious interaction: Moderate
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

LipoSan Ultra Chitosan 500 mg is a dietary supplement by Swanson Best Weight-Control Formulas with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for weight management, lowering cholesterol, wound care.Based on those ingredients, 3 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are LipoSan Ultra Chitosan. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

Computed from our clinical databases

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of LipoSan Ultra Chitosan 500 mg by Swanson Best Weight-Control Formulas

Four independent checks of what is known — a summary of the available information, not a grade of the product itself.

Evidence for Intended Use
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Not assessable

The stated purpose hasn't been mapped to our evidence data yet.

Why this rating?
  • We haven't mapped this product's purpose to our evidence data yet — it'll be graded on the next content refresh.
Ingredient Transparency
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 1 of its 1 active ingredient.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.
Known Interaction Concern
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Chitosan.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: anticoagulant / antiplatelet drugs.
  • For scale: 3 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.
Safety Information
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

HelloPharmacist summaryFully disclosed formula with no assessable stated purpose. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Assessment coverage: 1 of 1 active ingredient matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Nov 20, 2017.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about LipoSan Ultra Chitosan 500 mg, straight from the product label.

Brand Swanson Best Weight-Control Formulas
Barcode (UPC) 087614040431
Net contents 240 Capsule(s)
Market status Off market
Date entered into DSLD Nov 20, 2017
DSLD ID 78513
Product type Fiber And Other Nutrients
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses Nutrient, All Other
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years)
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for LipoSan Ultra Chitosan 500 mg by Swanson Best Weight-Control Formulas, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
2 Capsule(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
2 Capsule(s)
Servings per container
120
UPC/BARCODE
087614040431
IngredientAmount% DV
LipoSan Ultra Chitosan1 Gram(s)--

Other ingredients: Gelatin, Calcium Palmitate, Silica, Microcrystalline Cellulose

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
Seals/Symbols

Guaranteed purity & potency

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

Formula

A unique and proprietary dietary Fiber formulation

Precautions

Do not use if seal is broken.

Keep out of reach of children.

Storage

Store in a cool, dry place.

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested Use: As a dietary supplement, take two capsules with 8 ounces of liquid with each meal. Medications, fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K) and oil supplements should be taken at least 4 hours before or after ingestion to ensure absorption.

- Take at mealtime (not 30 minutes prior, as necessary with ordinary chitosan products)

Brand IP Statement(s)

LipoSan Ultra: - Ultra fast acting - Three to five times more fat binding

LipoSan Ultra is a registered trademark of Primex ehf.

General

SWD043 Rev 0 04 03 17

General Statements

To reorder, call toll free 1-800-437-4148 or visit our website at www.swansonvitamins.com

Direct comparison in vitro laboratory assay

See for yourself

LipoSan Ultra Chitosan 500 mg by Swanson Best Weight-Control Formulas label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

What’s inside

The Ingredients in LipoSan Ultra Chitosan 500 mg by Swanson Best Weight-Control Formulas

This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.

Serving size2 Capsule(s) Dosage formCapsule Servings per container120 Amounts shown are per serving.

LipoSan Ultra Chitosan

Interacts with
3 drugs
1 Gram(s) per serving Form: Shellfish

Chitosan is a fiber-like substance made from the shells of shrimp, crabs, and other shellfish, often marketed for weight loss and cholesterol. The evi...

LipoSan Ultra Chitosan monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Gelatin, Calcium Palmitate, Silica, Microcrystalline Cellulose. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

LipoSan Ultra Chitosan 500 mg by Swanson Best Weight-Control Formulas Drug Interactions

LipoSan Ultra Chitosan 500 mg contains a single active ingredient, and it has known interactions with 3 medications. Here’s the picture, then you can look up your own drug.

Want to check YOUR meds against LipoSan Ultra Chitosan 500 mg?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

Go to the checker
3Drugs
3 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in LipoSan Ultra Chitosan 500 mg with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

LipoSan Ultra Chitosan2 drug types · 3 drugs

Acyclovir (Zovirax)

Chitosan can reduce the absorption of acyclovir, potentially increasing the risk for treatment failure.
Clinical research in humans shows that taking chitosan along with acyclovir 200 mg reduces acyclovir absorption. Concomitant administration of chitosan 400 mg or 1000 mg reduced the acyclovir area under the curve (AUC) and peak plasma concentration by about 30% and 40%, respectively, compared with control. Concomitant administration with chitosan 1000 mg also increased time to peak concentration from 1 hour to 2 hours. In vitro research suggests that the mechanism for reduced absorption is due to acyclovir entrapment in chitosan-mucus complexes, which reduces intestinal absorption.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
Warfarin (Coumadin)

Theoretically, chitosan might increase the risk of bleeding when taken with warfarin.
In a case report, a patient taking warfarin had a significantly increased international normalized ratio (INR) after starting chitosan 1200 mg daily. The INR normalized after chitosan was discontinued and vitamin K was administered. The patient once again started taking chitosan and again had a significant increase in INR. The INR stabilized again once chitosan was discontinued. Researchers theorize that this interaction might occur because chitosan decreases absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamin K, which could increase the anticoagulant effect of warfarin.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for LipoSan Ultra Chitosan 500 mg, from the product label.

Swanson Best Weight-Control Formulas

See all Swanson Best Weight-Control Formulas products
Name
Swanson Health Products
City
Fargo
State
ND
ZipCode
58104
Phone Number
1-800-437-4148
Web Address
www.swansonvitamins.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

LipoSan Ultra Chitosan 500 mg by Swanson Best Weight-Control Formulas: Common Questions

Does LipoSan Ultra Chitosan 500 mg by Swanson Best Weight-Control Formulas interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, LipoSan Ultra Chitosan 500 mg has a known interaction with 3 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
LipoSan Ultra Chitosan 500 mg contains a single active ingredient, and that one ingredient can interact with many different medications on its own. We check it against each medication and show the mechanism responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Not sure if LipoSan Ultra Chitosan 500 mg is safe with your meds?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

LipoSan Ultra Chitosan 500 mg label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind LipoSan Ultra Chitosan 500 mg’s Ingredients

Every ingredient we hold a full HelloPharmacist monograph for — uses, evidence, safety, and the complete interaction list.

Sources

Sources & How We Checked

LipoSan Ultra Chitosan 500 mg's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 17 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Chitosan 17 references
  1. Jing SB, Li L, Ji D, et al. Effect of chitosan on renal function in patients with chronic renal failure. J Pharm Pharmacol 1997;49:721-3. PubMed
  2. Pittler MH, Abbot NC, Harkness EF, Ernst E. Randomized, double-blind trial of chitosan for body weight reduction. Eur J Clin Nutr 1999;53:379-81. PubMed
  3. Ho SC, Tai ES, Eng PH, et al. In the absence of dietary surveillance, chitosan does not reduce plasma lipids or obesity in hypercholesterolaemic obese Asian subjects. Singapore Med J 2001;42:6-10.
  4. Bokura H, Kobayashi S. Chitosan decreases total cholesterol in women: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Eur J Clin Nutr 2003;57:721-5. PubMed
  5. Mhurchu CN, Poppitt SD, McGill AT, et al. The effect of the dietary supplement, Chitosan, on body weight: a randomised controlled trial in 250 overweight and obese adults. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 2004;28:1149-56. PubMed
  6. Huang SS, Sung SH, Chiang CE. Chitosan potentiation of warfarin effect. Ann Pharmacother 2007;41:1912-4. PubMed
  7. Tsai, G. J. and Su, W. H. Antibacterial activity of shrimp chitosan against Escherichia coli. J Food Prot. 1999;62(3):239-243. PubMed
  8. Wuolijoki, E., Hirvela, T., and Ylitalo, P. Decrease in serum LDL cholesterol with microcrystalline chitosan. Methods Find.Exp Clin Pharmacol. 1999;21(5):357-361. PubMed
  9. Nelson, J. L., Alexander, J. W., Gianotti, L., Chalk, C. L., and Pyles, T. Influence of dietary fiber on microbial growth in vitro and bacterial translocation after burn injury in mice. Nutrition 1994;10(1):32-36.
  10. Schiller RN, Barrager E, Schauss EA, and et al. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study examining the effects of a rapidly soluble chitosan dietary supplement on weight loss and body composition in overweight and mildly obese individuals. J
  11. Koide, S. S. Chitin-chitosan: properties, benefits and risks. Nutrition Research 1998;8(6):1091-1101. DOI
  12. Maezaki Y, Tsuji K, Nakawa, and et al. Hypocholesterolaemic effect of chitosan in adult males. Biosc Biochem Biotech 1993;57:1439-1444.
  13. Kubbinga M, Nguyen MA, Staubach P, et al. The influence of chitosan on the oral bioavailability of acyclovir-a comparative bioavailability study in humans. Pharm Res 2015;32(7):2241-9. PubMed
  14. Jull AB, Ni Mhurchu C, Bennett DA, et al. Chitosan for overweight or obesity. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2008;(3):CD003892. PubMed
  15. Schmidl D, Werkmeister R, Kaya S, et al. A Controlled, Randomized Double-Blind Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Chitosan-N-Acetylcysteine for the Treatment of Dry Eye Syndrome. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther. 2017;33(5):375-382.
  16. Moraru C, Mincea MM, Frandes M, Timar B, Ostafe V. A meta-analysis on randomised controlled clinical trials evaluating the effect of the dietary supplement chitosan on weight loss, lipid parameters and blood pressure. Medicina (Kaunas). 2018;54(6):109. PubMed
  17. García MA, Hensler G, Al-Gousous J, Pielenhofer J, Wagner M, Lennernäs H, Langguth P. Novel food drug interaction mechanism involving acyclovir, chitosan and endogenous mucus. Drug Metab Pharmacokinet. 2023;49:100491. PubMed

See these in context on the Chitosan monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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