This study investigated the effects of chitosan on cadmium(Cd) toxicity and mineral metabolism in rats exposed to cadmium by oral administration. Six week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into eight groups. Four groups were fed AIN-93G based 3% ${alpha}$-cellulose diets while the others were fed 3% chitosan diets for four weeks with oral administration of 0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 mg Cd/2ml distilled water three times a week, respectively. Cd contents in the serum, liver, kidney, testis and bone, and the excretion of cadmium in feces were determined. There was no significant difference in weight gain and food intake among groups. Cadmium contents in the serum, liver, kidney, testis, femur and lumbar were significantly increased in proportion to the administration level of Cd (p<0.05). A protective effect of chitosan on cadmium toxicity in tissue was shown only in the high level cadmium-intake group. The fecal excretion, absorption of Cd were increased by the administration levels of cadmium. These results suggest that Cd administration may facilitate the accumulation of Cd in the blood and tissue in proportion to the amount of administration, and also, that chitosan may be effective in lowering the accumulation of cadmium.