Instructions for Taking Stacker 3 Diet Pills

The "Stacker 3 with Chitosan" diet pills you find in the market today are the ephedra-free version of the original Stacker 3 diet supplement, which the manufacturer no longer produces. Stacker 3 is formulated for individuals who are at least 18 years old and not pregnant. Although this is an over-the-counter product, consult your doctor before taking this supplement.

How to Take It

If your doctor agrees Stacker 3 may help you, discuss dosage with her. The product label suggests you take one capsule after meals for a maximum of three capsules daily.

Promoter’s Claims

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The marketing material that promotes Stacker 3 as a weight-loss pill says that chitosan is a substance that binds to fat, preventing your body from accumulating it. It also asserts that Stacker 3 “increases the body’s ability to burn fat.”

About Chitosan

Chitosan comes from crustaceans or fungi. The Stacker 3 label says it contains chitosan from shellfish. The substance is made from chitin, material present in the external skeletons of crabs, lobsters, clams and other aquatic animals in the same group. According to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, when chitosan enters your stomach, it attaches itself to bile acids, cholesterol, fat-soluble vitamins and phospholipids 2. But science has not shown that the presence of chitosan makes your body shed more fat than when the substance is not in your stomach. Thus, it is not known why you might lose weight while taking chitosan.

Chitosan and Weight Loss

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For the most part, clinical trials have failed to demonstrate that chitosan causes you to lose weight. One small study conducted in Mexico and reported in the journal “Nutrition Research” is an exception. The researchers with the Mexican Institute of Social Security found that six obese individuals who took chitosan supplements 30 minutes before meals for three months lost weight.

Chitosan Risks

If you are allergic to shellfish, the presence of crustacean chitosan in Stacker 3 may trigger a reaction. Chitosan can also cause gastrointestinal problems, including gas and constipation. Besides, this substance binds vitamins A, D, E and K, interfering with your body's absorption of these nutrients.