Discover why you need to compare Beta Glucan products before you purchase.
The market is full of beta glucan products, some work, many don’t. The only questions we should all be asking ourselves: What is Beta Glucan and Which Ones Work? You maybe in for a surprise. This article contains relevant and important information into an easy-to-read, accessible format to enable consumers to make informed, knowledgeable decisions when it comes to selecting and purchasing the right Beta Glucan Product or immune support supplements.
Are you aware that the term ‘beta glucan’ on a products bottle is a general term and does not necessarily relate to a product that contains the active ingredient that helps support our immune system?
This can lead to confusion in individuals looking to purchase an immune support product. Beta glucan can be found throughout nature, including oat, barley and mushrooms. It is very abundant. It is also found in bakers yeast. But the question remains; will it support or boost our immune system.
CLICK HERE: HOW TO IDENTIFY A HIGH QUALITY BETA GLUCAN PRODUCT
There are many products that claim to contain Beta Glucan and espouse the many benefits that have been shown in study after peer reviewed study. However many of these products do not, or cannot produce the results in the studies because they do not contain the proper molecular compounds required to produce the results seen in the studies. You need to know how to identify these compounds to ensure that your product will actually produce results.
This article describes how to properly compare Beta Glucan supplements to determine for yourself if the product you are taking, or are considering purchasing is providing you with actual benefits backed up by actual scientific data. This article is meant to educated you and not sell you a specific product. If you believe you do not have the time to read this article in its entirety and want to ‘cut-to-the-chase’ here is a link to a synopsis on published, peer-reviewed medical research conducted on forty of the most popular immune support products that details which ones produce real. effective results and which ones don’t.
While all these linkages can be present in a ‘beta glucan’ product, only the 1, 3-d glucan linkage is the subject of intense medical research on immune system support. These other naturally arranged ‘molecular chains’ that are present in a properly produced product provide evidence that the 1, 3-d glucose linkage is present (In more technical terms Beta 1, 3-d glucan is called 1, 3-d glucose linkage), and depending on how these chains are arranged will also determine exactly what benefits a high quality product may produce. What determines how the chains are arranged What the Beta Glucan product is derived from.
If you have done any type of research on Beta Glucan products you will have come across different ‘types’ of Beta Glucan products. It’s this source material, what the products is produced from, the most popular ones being Barley, Oats, Mushrooms, or Bakers Yeast (properly called Saccharomyces cerevisiae), that determines how the molecular linkages are arranged and it is this arrangement that determines its benefits.
Peer reviewed research shows that Barley[1] and Oat[2] derived glucan supplements provide heart health related benefits however they do not provide any substantial immune support benefits[3]. They are great for heart health and fall short of any others. On the ther hand, Mushroom derived products has been shown to provide immune support benefits but lacks any proven benefits on heart health or others[4].
This leaves us with one; Bakers Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), when properly derived has provided a broad-spectrum benefits[5],[6],[7],[8] including heart health[9],[10],[11]. In other words, it is the ‘kitchen sink’ of Beta glucans, the end-all, be-all, IF it is properly derived/manufactured. It is this type of Beta Glucan this article focuses on[12].
CLICK HERE: HOW TO IDENTIFY A HIGH QUALITY BETA GLUCAN PRODUCT
What Actually is Beta Glucan?
All the peer reviewed medical research that has shown the incredible results is based on the the study of Beta 1, 3-D glucan, not Beta glucan [13]. This research has spanned over 60 years and over 1,500 peer reviewed research papers have been published on this amazing material. Simply put, it is one of the most studied immune system support materials ever discovered. It has produced many incredible results in the medical scientific field on a wide range of health challenges.
Beta 1, 3-d glucan is a long chain polysaccharide, which is a complex carbohydrate[14]. It contains ‘complex’; sugar molecules that are linked together chemically. The Beta glucan molecule is made up of many different ‘chains’, i.e. links.
These links are described as;
-
- 1, 3-d glucan
- 1, 4 glucan
- 1, 6 glucan
- 2, 3 glucan
- 3, 6 glucan
While all these linkages can be present in a ‘beta glucan’ product, only the 1, 3-d glucan linkage is the subject of intense medical research on immune system support. This research has spanned over 50 years and over 1,500 peer reviewed research papers have been published on this amazing material. Simply put, it is one of the most studied immune system support materials ever discovered. It has produced some incredible results in the medical scientific field on a wide range of health challenges.
These other naturally arranged ‘molecular chains’ that are present in a properly produced product provide evidence that the 1, 3-d glucan is present, and depending on how these chains are arranged will also determine exactly what benefits a product may produce. What determines how the chains are arranged? What the Beta Glucan product is derived from.
Once you start to research Beta glucan, one comes to the conclusion that not all products that claim to contain Beta glucan are the same. Many products may contain only trace amounts of the 1, 3-d linkage, or are produced using an inferior extraction processes that renders the product practically useless. This in turn may cause adverse reactions such as yeast infections.
Many ‘manufacturers’ of Beta glucan products simply dry the yeast, grind it up, and pill or encapsulate it. That legally qualifies for it to be labeled a Beta glucan product. Some call this process ‘micronization’ and is nothing more then a marketing ploy to temp the buyers into purchasing their Beta glucan product. They will make the claim that if it is not ‘micronized’ it will not work. Peer-reviewed medical literature already shows ‘micronization’ does not produce the effective results[15].
They claim that the macrophage, i.e. white blood cell, which is the first line of defense against threats, cannot engulf Beta glucan material that has not been ‘micronized’ because the standard Beta glucan particles are ‘too big’ for the macrophage to ingest.
In an independent test on a high quality beta glucan product (not ‘micronized’) was tagged using fluorescence microscopy. The material was orally fed to subjects tested. The results showed that one high quality beta glucan product was taken up by macrophages and migrate to the spleen, lymph nodes, and bone marrow. A double-staining with F4/80-PE-Cy5.5 (red) confirmed that all cells containing ingested whole glucan particulate were macrophages. As you know bone marrow is the main foundation of the immune system.
Some manufacturers who’s products may actually contain Beta 1, 3-D glucan also push small dosage amount is all that is required to support your immune system. The claims around ’10mg’ is routinely used as their answer to the support problem. Go to PubMED, search the safe, effective human oral dose. You will find that human studies show grams of high-quality material, not trace amounts to be effective.
Manufactures and marketers alike use these terms because they do not want the public to catch on to what they are doing. Time and time again, independent tests conducted at some of the most prestigious universities and medical centers world wide have proven it is the Beta 1, 3-d glucan that provides the immune system support benefit, not beta glucan. Let me repeat that, universities and medical centers world wide have proven it is the Beta 1, 3-d glucan that provides the immune system support benefit.
So why are Beta glucan products so popular as an immune support supplement?
Because these marketers and manufacturers are using the studies conducted on it 1, 3-d glucan linkage, NOT a Beta Glucan. They are using a bait and switch tactic.
In some cases there maybe products that contain the 1, 3-d linkage however it will be in such a small amount it won’t provide any immune system support benefits, or it will contain a large amount of impurities that it will render the products practically worthless.
Independent tests have shown that an effective Beta 1, 3-d glucan product needs to contain at a minimum of 80% pure 1, 3-d glucan with minimum amount of proteins and fats.
Fats have been shown to reduce the absorption of the Beta 1, 3-d glucan and proteins may cause adverse reactions. Inferior grade beta glucan can have a large percentage of protein, and that could adverse effects. So if you are going out to buy some, make sure you buy the correct one with the minimal amount of protein. The Beta glucan is found between the inside wall and the outside wall of the Baker’s yeast cell, this “coating” is called mannon, or mannon protein. This coat can block the Beta 1, 3-d glucan from uptake into our immune system so it will have little or no effect. However the main concern is the mannon proteins are very toxic, they can cause inflammation, the one thing you want to stay away from[16] . So you better know what you are buying!, one works and the other do not.
Thus, purity is of major concern. Not only must all these mannons be removed but all traces of the yeast must be removed so even people allergic to yeast can take it.
Inferior products cannot accomplish the ‘turning on’, i.e. boosting, of the glucan receptors because the Beta 1,3-d molecule is shielded and masked by these contaminants[17].
CLICK HERE: HOW TO IDENTIFY A HIGH QUALITY BETA GLUCAN PRODUCT
[1] Reduced and high molecular weight barley beta-glucans decrease plasma total and non-HDL-cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic Syrian golden hamsters.Wilson TA, Nicolosi RJ, Delaney B, Chadwell K, Moolchandani V, Kotyla T, Ponduru S, Zheng GH, Hess R, Knutson N, Curry L, Kolberg L, Goulson M, Ostergren K.J Nutr. 2004 Oct;134(10):2617-22.
[2] Oat-bran cereal lowers serum total and LDL cholesterol, JW Anderson, DB Spencer, CC Hamilton, SF Smith, J Tietyen, CA Bryant and P Oeltgen. Am J Clin Nutr 1990, Vol 52, 495-499
[3] Rondanelli M, Opizzi A, Monteferrario F. The biological activity of beta-glucans. Minerva Med 2009 June 100(3):237-245.
[4] Wang L, Ha CL, Cheng TL, Cheng SY, Lian TW, Wu MJ. Oral administration of submerged cultivated Grifola frondosa enhances phagocytic activity in normal mice. J Pharm Pharmacol. 2008 February 60(2):237-43.
[5] “Isolation of a Yeast Heptaglucoside that Inhibits Monocyte Phagocytosis of Zymosan Particles”. Janusz M.J., Austen K.F., Czop J.K.; JI; 142:959-965. Dept of Med, Harvard Med Sch, Boston, MA
[6] “B-glucan Inhibitable Receptor on Human Monocytes: Its Identity with the Phagocytic Receptor for Particular Activators of the Alternative Complement Pathway. Czop J.K., Austen K.F., JI 134: 1985; 2588-2593. 1985
[7]“An Evaluation of the Immunological Activities of Commercially Available Beta 1, 3 Glucans” Vetvicka V, Vetvickova J. An evaluation of the immunological activities of commercially available [beta]1,3-glucans. JANA. 2007; 10(1);25-31.
[8] “Enhancement of Interleukin-1 and Interleukin-2 Production by Soluble Glucan,” Sherwood. E.R., et al., Int J Immunopharmacol.; 9:(3):261-267. 1987.
[9] Vetvicka V, Vetvickova J; ; “Effects of yeast-derived beta-glucans on blood cholesterol and macrophage functionality.” U of Louisville, Dept of Pathology, Louisville, KY 40202; March 2009. yeast-derived beta-glucans modify cholesterol levels and other indicators associated with artherogenic progression in mice..”
[10] “Cholesterol Benefits from Beta 1,3/1,6 Glucan Purified from Yeast Cell Wall,” Nicolosi, R., Bell, SJ., Bistrian, B., Greenberg, I.,CLIN NUTR Vol. 70, No. 2, 208-212, August 1999
[11] “Effect of beta-glucan from oats and yeast on serum lipids” Bell S, Goldman VM, Bistrian BR, Arnold AH, Ostroff G, Forse RA, Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 39(2):189-202, March 1999
[12]“An Evaluation of the Immunological Activities of Commercially Available Beta 1, 3 Glucans” Vetvicka V, Vetvickova J. An evaluation of the immunological activities of commercially available [beta]1,3-glucans. JANA. 2007; 10(1);25-31.
[13] http://www.nih.gov/
[14]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polysaccharide
[15]Preparation, characterization, and biological properties of β-glucans, Sandeep Rahar, Gaurav Swami, Navneet Nagpal, Manisha A. Nagpal, Gagan Shah Singh. J Adv Pharm Technol Res. 2011 Apr-Jun; 2(2): 94–103. doi: 10.4103/2231-4040.82953; PMCID: PMC3217690; PMID: 22171300
[16] Specificity of membrane complement receptor type three (CR3) for beta-glucan’s. Ross GD, Cain JA, Myones BL, Newman SL, Lachmann PJ. Complement. 1987;4(2):61-74. PMID: 3040332
[17]Seibold F Food-induced immune responses as origin of bowel disease? Digestion. 2005;71(4):251-60. Epub 2005 Jul 12.
