Matsyafed claims to develop anti-obesity capsule

Friday,30 October 2009


Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala's state promoted fisheries co-operative Matsyafed has developed a marine-based health product, that it claims would help in reducing obesity.

Extracted from the exoskeleton of fresh marine prawns, crabs and lobsters (chitosan), the product named 'Chitone' would hit the Indian market in December and its production has already started in agency's Neendakara plant in Kollam, a Matsyafed release said here on Friday.

Matsyafed had earlier entered into a technical collaboration with the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology for extraction of chitosan and quality control. Clinical and toxicological studies showed that chitosan was an efficient and safe fat absorbing fibre.

It had proven to be a non-toxic and well-tolerated natural product helping in weight reduction, normalising blood pressure and blood cholesterol reduction, Matsyafed claimed. Besides marketing, Matysafed also plans to sign agreement with leading drug dealers for the upcountry marketing of the product, the release added.