A series of scientific insights on potential of shrimp co-products.
Chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) is an oligomer of chitosan – polymer derived from the deacetylation of chitin. It originates from shrimp shells, a valuable by-product of the seafood processing industry. A study in Thailand demonstrated that COS at a concentration of 100 µg/mL significantly reduced kidney cyst size, decreasing cyst diameter by 50% through AMPK activation – a mechanism that reduces fluid accumulation and inhibits cell proliferation. This AMPK activation occurs via the Ca2+ – CaMKKβ pathway by increasing intracellular Ca2+ levels 5 times.