Beta Glucan

A natural immune booster and cholesterol lowering supplement, studies show that Beta Glucan can significantly lower one’s cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease with this powerful source of soluble fiber.

Cholesterol: “The Biological activity of beta-glucans”; Minerva Medical; 100(3): 237-245; Pub Med 19571787; Jun 2009; Quote: “…Beta-glucans have studied for their hypocholesterolemic effects; these mechanisms include: reducing the intestinal absorption of cholesterol and bile acids by binding to glucans; shifting the liver from cholesterol syntheses to bile acid production; and fermentation by intestinal bacteria to short-chain fatty acids, which are absorbed and inhibit hepatic cholesterol syntheses. …beta-1, 3-glucans improve the body’s immune system defense against foreign invaders by enhancing the ability of macrophages, neutrophils and natural killer cells to respond to and fight a wide range of challenges such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. …there is renewed interest in the potential usefulness of beta-glucan as a radioprotective drug for chemotherapy, radiation therapy and nuclear emergencies, particularly because glucan can be used not only as a treatment, but also as a prophylactic [taken in advance for protection].”

Cholesterol: 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. Quote: “…consumption of …yeast-derived beta-glucan indicated a dose-dependent decrease in plasma cholesterol levels…highly purified yeast-derived beta-glucans modify cholesterol levels and other indicators associated with artherogenic progression in mice…”

Cholesterol: Naumann E, Van Rees AB, Onning G, Oste R, Wydra M, Mensink RP; “Beta-glucan incorporated into a fruit drink effectively lowers serum LDL-cholesterol concentrations.” American J Clin Nutr: 83(3): 601-5. Department of Human Biology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands. March 2006. Quote: “…beta-Glucan can reduce serum concentrations of total and LDL cholesterol. …: Beta-glucan lowers serum concentrations of total and LDL cholesterol when incorporated into a fruit drink. A reduced cholesterol absorption contributes to the cholesterol-lowering effect of beta-glucan without affecting plasma concentrations of lipid-soluble antioxidants.”

Cholesterol Control: Robert Nicolosi, Stacey J Bell, Bruce R Bistrian, Isaac Greenberg, R Armour Forse and George L Blackburn, “Cholesterol Benefits from Beta 1,3/1,6 Glucan Purified from Yeast Cell Wall,” Nutrition and Infection Laboratory, Harvard Medical School; the Centers for the Study of Nutrition and Medicine and for Nutritional Research, and Clowes Surgical Metabolism Laboratory, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 70, No. 2, 208-212, August 1999. Quote: “The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect on serum lipids of a yeast-derived ß-glucan fiber in 15 free-living, obese, hypercholesterolemic men. … The yeast-derived Beta-glucan fiber significantly lowered total cholesterol concentrations and was well tolerated…The link between elevated plasma LDL-cholesterol concentrations and the risk of developing coronary artery disease has been clearly established…Elevated plasma cholesterol and, in particular, LDL-cholesterol concentrations are associated with increased risk of coronary artery disease, whereas an elevated of HDL-cholesterol concentration is inversely correlated with the incidence of cardiovascular…The yeast-derived ß-glucan fiber lowered total cholesterol and raised HDL-cholesterol concentrations significantly. …

Unlike the significant increases in HDL-cholesterol concentrations observed 4 weeks after the end of the study for subjects receiving the yeast-derived Beta-Glucan, none of the 24 studies of oat products reported significant changes in HDL concentration, because higher HDL-cholesterol concentrations are associated with a reduced risk of developing coronary artery disease, there may be unique benefits of using the yeast-derived Beta-Glucan, and perhaps psyllium, rather than the oat products.”

Cholesterol Control: Bell S, Goldman VM, Bistrian BR, Arnold AH, Ostroff G, Forse RA, “Effect of beta-glucan from oats and yeast on serum lipids [cholesterol included],” Critical Rev Food Science Nutrition, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; 39(2): 189-202, March 1999: Quote: Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S.  One way to reduce the risk of developing the disease is to lower serum cholesterol levels by making dietary changes. In addition to reducing intake of total fat, saturated fat and dietary cholesterol, serum cholesterol can be further reduced by added fiber, especially from sources rich in beta-glucan.  The yeast-derived fiber is a more concentrated source of beta-glucan than the oat product.”