Beta glucan
information and health benefit, review of studies and dosage pills of 250
mg, 500 mg
Oat beta-glucan supplement research and the role of beta-glucan and immune system
influence
Beta glucan is a naturally derived polysaccharide which has been studied for its anti-tumor and immuno-stimulating properties.
Source Naturals
Buy Beta Glucan 250
mg each pill

Beta Glucan is a unique polysaccharide composed of glucose molecules extracted and purified from the cell wall of common baker's yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Beta glucan is used to maintain or stimulate the effectiveness of the immune system. Animal and human cell culture studies have shown that beta glucan can stimulate several aspects of immune function, such as phagocytosis and interleukin production. Source Naturals Beta Glucan uses a purification process that removes the manoproteins and yeast residues that may reduce the effectiveness of beta glucan.
Beta Glucan, 250 mg., 60 Tablets Source Naturals
Beta-glucan, a natural fiber, reduces cholesterol
levels
Scientists at the University of Minnesota, Medical School,
Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, in Minneapolis, MN,
did a 10-week controlled study to determine the benefits of
beta glucan for cholesterol management. Beta-glucan extract at 3 and 5 g
doses was given two times a day with meals in the form of a ready-to-eat
cereal and a reduced-calorie fruit juice beverage. After 6 weeks of
treatment, the mean LDL- Cholesterol levels fell by about 15 % in 5 gram
group and 9 % in the 3 g group. Similar results were observed for total
cholesterol. HDL-Cholesterol levels were unchanged by treatment.
Here is one example of a cheap and safe alternative to cholesterol
lowering drugs. Another great fiber worth mentioning is psyllium.
Conditions where
veta glucan
may be effective and helpful
Beta glucan may be helpful in diabetes, high blood pressure, and
perhaps breast cancer.
Beta glucan and
breast cancer effect
Beta glucan induces proliferation and activation of monocytes in peripheral
blood of patients with advanced breast cancer.
Int Immunopharmacol. 2007 January. Demir G, Klein HO, Mandel-Molinas N,
Tuzuner N. Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa Medical School, Medical Oncology
Department, Istanbul, Turkey.
In human studies it has been shown that beta glucan can influence the immune
system and can increase the efficacy of the biological therapies in cancer
patients. In this prospective clinical trial we assessed in vivo effects of
short term oral beta glucan administration on peripheral blood monocytes and
their expression of activation markers in patients with advanced breast cancer.
23 female patients with advanced breast cancer were included in the study.
Peripheral blood samples were drawn on day zero and patients started receiving
oral 1-3, 1-6, D-beta glucan daily. Oral beta glucan administration seems to
stimulate proliferation and activation of peripheral blood monocytes in vivo in
patients with advanced breast cancer.
Cholesterol
influence and blood lipids
Cholesterol-lowering effect of beta-glucan from oat bran in mildly
hypercholesterolemic subjects may decrease when beta-glucan is incorporated into
bread and cookies.
Kerckhoffs DA. Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Findings about the effects of beta-glucan on serum lipoproteins are
conflicting. OBJECTIVE: The study investigated the effects of beta-glucan from
oat bran in bread and cookies (study 1) and in orange juice (study 2) on serum
lipoproteins in mildly hypercholesterolemic subjects. In study 1, 48
subjects (21 men, 27 women) received for 3 wk control bread and cookies rich in
wheat fiber. For the next 4 wk, by random assignment, 23 subjects continued to
consume the control products, and 25 received bread and cookies rich in beta-glucan.
Mean daily intake of beta-glucan was 5.9 g. Total dietary fiber intake did not
differ significantly between the groups. In study 2, the same sources of control
fiber and beta-glucan (5 g/d) as in study 1 were provided. For 2 wk, 25 of the
original 48 subjects (10 men, 15 women) were randomly assigned to consume orange
juice containing either wheat fiber (n = 13) or beta-glucan from oat bran (n =
12). After a washout period of 1 wk, dietary regimens were crossed over.
In study 1, the change in LDL cholesterol did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. In study 2, the drink rich in
beta-glucan decreased LDL cholesterol by 0.26 and the ratio of total to HDL cholesterol by 0.26 compared with the other drink. HDL-cholesterol and triacylglycerol
concentrations did not change significantly. The food matrix or the
food processing, or both, could have adverse effects on the hypocholesterolemic
properties of oat beta-glucan.
Randomized controlled crossover study of the effect of a highly beta-glucan-enriched
barley on cardiovascular disease risk factors in mildly hypercholesterolemic
men.
Keogh GF, Cooper GJ,
Department of Medicine, the Human Nutrition & Metabolic Unit, University of
Auckland, New Zealand.
Soluble-fiber beta-glucan derived from oats can reduce
cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk through reductions in total and LDL
cholesterol. Barley-derived beta-glucan may also improve serum cholesterol, but
large quantities are required for clinical significance. This trial
investigated whether a beta-glucan-enriched form of barley can favorably modify
cholesterol and other markers of CVD and diabetes risk. Eighteen mildly hyperlipidemic men with a mean body mass index (in kg/m(2)) of 27.4 were randomly assigned in
this single-blind, 2 x 4-wk trial to either the treatment arm [8.1-11.9 g beta-glucan/d
(scaled to body weight)] or the control arm (isoenergetic dose of 6.5-9.2 g
glucose/d). After a washout period of 4 wk, dietary regimens were crossed over.
The trial took place in a long-stay metabolic facility, and all foods were
provided (38% of energy from fat). Fasted blood samples were collected on days
0, 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 29 in both study arms. An oral-glucose-tolerance test
was carried out on days 0 and 29. There was no significant change
in total, LDL, or HDL cholesterol or in triacylglycerol, fasting glucose, or postprandial glucose
when analyzed between treatments. The effect of
beta-glucan-enriched barley on lipid profile was highly variable between
subjects, and there was no evidence of a clinically significant improvement in
CVD risk across this group of mildly hyperlipidemic men.
Beta glucan and diabetes, blood
sugar
The addition of beta-glucan
predictably reduces the Glycemic Index. In a 50 g carbohydrate portion each gram of
beta-glucan reduces the GI by 4 units, making it a useful functional food component for
reducing postprandial glycemia.
The effect of beta-glucan on the glycemic and insulin index.
Eur J Clin Nutr. 2007 June . Mäkeläinen H, Anttila H, Sihvonen J, Hietanen
RM, Tahvonen R, Salminen E, Mikola M, Sontag-Strohm T. Functional Foods Forum,
University of Turku, Helsinki, Finland.
To determine the effects of oat products with increasing beta-glucan content on
the glycemic (GI) and insulin indexes (II) of oat products, and to establish the
effect of physical properties of beta-glucan on these physiological responses.
One male and nine female volunteers were recruited from university students and
staff, and all completed the study. GI and II of different products were
calculated for each subject using the average of parallel glucose tolerance
tests and the subsequent glycemic/insulinemic responses for each product.
Average indexes for products were calculated according to the individual data.
The glycemic responses to oat products with increasing amounts of beta-glucan
had lower peak values than the reference glucose load. The amount of extractable
beta-glucan had a high correlation between the glycemic and insulinemic
response. In addition to the total amount of beta-glucan in oat products, the
amount of extractable beta-glucan in oat products explains the magnitude of the
decrease in glycemic responses to carbohydrate products.
Sweeteners and beta-glucans improve metabolic and anthropometrics variables in
well controlled type 2 diabetic patients.
Reyna NY. University of Zulia, Maracaibo,
Venezuela.
Am J Ther. 2003 Nov-Dec;10(6):438-43.
The introduction of fat and carbohydrates replacers has been a revolutionary
advance in treating obesity and diabetes mellitus. Since these materials have
shown to have beneficial effects on the metabolic profiles of diabetic patients,
they should be useful in designing specific foods for patients with diabetes.
To compare metabolic and anthropometric improvements elicited by a
diet based on the American Diabetic Association's nutrition recommendations with
a modified, low-energy diet incorporating fat replacers and non-sucrose
sweeteners. A total of 16 male, well controlled type 2 diabetes patients
were divided into two groups of eight; one group received the diet based on the
American Diabetic Association's nutrition recommendations, and the other was fed
a modified, low-calorie diet containing a fat replacer (beta-glucans derived
from oats) and the sweeteners, sucralose and fructose. Both groups were
maintained on their respective diets for 4 weeks. All patients performed daily
aerobic exercise consisting of walking for 60 minutes. Body weight, body mass
index, basal glycemia, hemoglobin HbA1C, and lipid profile were determined in
each patient before starting the diets and after 4 weeks of dietary
intervention. Both diets produced significant improvements in weight,
body mass index, lipid profile, basal glucose, and HbA1C. However, the
experimental diet was superior to the American Diabetic Association's diet in
improving metabolic and anthropometric profile: greater increase in HDL
cholesterol and larger decreases in HbA1C, weight, and body mass index.
A diet incorporating a beta-glucans and non-sucrose sweeteners
produced a greater improvement in metabolic and anthropometric variables in well
controlled type 2 diabetic patients when compared with a diet based on American
Diabetic Association's nutrition recommendations. hypocholesterolemic
properties of oat beta-glucan.
Beta-Glucan and high blood pressure
Effects of consuming foods containing oat beta-glucan on blood pressure,
carbohydrate metabolism and biomarkers of oxidative stress in men and women with
elevated blood pressure.
Eur J Clin Nutr. 2006 Dec 6; Radiant Research, Chicago, IL, USA, Provident
Clinical Research, Bloomington, IN, USA.
To assess the effects of consuming foods containing oat beta-glucan on blood
pressure, carbohydrate homeostasis and biomarkers of oxidative stress. A
randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial. Ninety-seven men and women
with resting systolic blood pressure 130-179 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood
pressure 85-109 mm Hg were randomly assigned to consume foods containing oat
beta-glucan or control foods for 12 weeks. Resting blood pressures, insulin and
glucose values before and after standard breakfast meals, and four biomarkers of
oxidative stress were measured before and at the end of the treatment period.
Changes from baseline to week 12 in mean peak insulin and incremental area under
the insulin curve differed significantly between groups, with the beta-glucan
group showing declines and the control group remaining essentially unchanged.
Blood pressure responses were not significantly different between groups
overall. However, in subjects with body mass index above the median (31.5
kg/m(2)), both systolic (8 mm Hg) and diastolic (3.9 mm Hg) blood pressures
were lowered in the beta-glucan group compared to controls. No significant
differences in biomarkers of oxidative stress were observed between treatments.
The results of the present trial suggest beneficial effects of foods containing
beta-glucan from oats on carbohydrate metabolism, and on blood pressure in obese
subjects. Funding for this study was provided by the Quaker Oats Company.
Beta glucan and
immune system
The carbohydrate polymers known as beta-1,3-d-glucans exert potent effects on
the immune system - stimulating anti-tumor and antimicrobial activity, for example - by
binding to receptors on macrophages and other white blood cells and activating them.
Although beta-glucans are known to bind to receptors, such as complement receptor 3, there
is evidence that another beta-glucan receptor is present on macrophages.
Beta Glucan, 250 mg., 60 Tablets
Source Naturals side effects, adverse events, safety
No major side effects or safety concerns have been reported with
this product.
Beta glucan review, testimonials
Is there any beta glucan research regarding its use with aphrodisiac herbs or
tongkat ali herbal extract?
We have not seen this combination, although beta glucan
appears to be a safe supplement and can combine well with most other
supplements.
Does a beta glucan benefit change with the use of a
Tribulus terrestris
extract taken three times a week?
We doubt the herb would have much of an influence.
How long should a
beta glucan supplement be used to promote the immune system?
This is a good question but a long term beta glucan
study is not available to give us clues.
I have been to a website and saw that you made reference to beta glucan. A recent book published by Dr. Vaclav Vetvicka has just been released. thebetasource dot com to find out more.