Beta glucans are natural sugars found in algae, bacteria, lichens, yeasts, and plants like barley and oats. They are used in food additives and medicines to reduce cholesterol levels and strengthen the immune system. Beta glucans can also help control blood sugar and have been shown to increase the survival rate in some cancer patients. While beta glucans in foods are generally safe, medicinal formulations can cause side effects.
Beta glucans are natural polysaccharides found in the cell walls of algae, bacteria, lichens and yeasts. These sugars are also found in plants, such as barley and oats. They are used in the manufacture of food additives, as well as in medicines that help reduce cholesterol levels and strengthen the immune system.
The most common use in manufacturing is in food additives or food ingredients in cheese spreads, frozen desserts, salad dressings, and sour cream. Yeast extract and brewer’s yeast are forms that frequently appear on food labels. Other forms can be used to enhance the properties of food emulsions or in soluble fiber supplements.
Concentrated yeast beta-glucans are more readily incorporated into food products than grain-derived forms. Yeast forms are also more used medicinally, although the beta glucan in oats is thought to have greater therapeutic potential. Enriched barley glucan has not proven effective in some tests, although further research into processing methods for enriched products is underway. Forms of beta glucans derived from shiitake mushrooms and other mushrooms have demonstrated efficacy in some medical uses and are under study.
Beta glucan benefits may include lower cholesterol levels and immune system improvements. When yeast beta glucan is taken orally, it is believed to help prevent the absorption of cholesterol during digestion in both the stomach and intestines. German research presented at the First International Congress on Pre-Diabetes and the Metabolic Syndrome found that barley beta-glucan reduces serum lipid levels, as well as cholesterol, triglycerides and markers of glycemic control.
Many experts agree that early evidence from human studies of using beta glucans to help control blood sugar is promising, but suggest more research is needed. There is, however, strong support for their use in boosting the immune system in people with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections. Beta glucan injections can also be given after surgery to help prevent infection. Beta glucan supplements are sold over the counter as supplements to people who believe sugars are helpful in treating other conditions that benefit from a boost to the immune system.
Studies indicate an increased survival rate in some cancer patients when beta glucans are given intravenously or by injection along with conventional treatment. Beta-glucan treatments typically need to be given for at least a year to be effective. Specific types of beta glucans can be given intravenously to extend the life of some people with certain advanced cancers.
Although beta glucans in foods are generally recognized as safe, there can be side effects in medicinal formulations. The fungal and yeast versions appear to be well tolerated when taken by mouth. Intravenous treatments can cause a number of side effects, including dizziness, headaches, nausea, and blood pressure changes.
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