See also: beta glucan in cosmetics
Generality
The term beta-glucans usually refers to a class of indigestible polysaccharides found in foods such as bran, oats, yeasts, fungi and algae.
The particular chemical characteristics give the beta-glucans a certain flexibility, but above all a very low digestibility, responsible for the mechanical properties carried out in the intestine.
The structure of beta-glucans therefore influences their metabolic functions, in particular their cholesterol-lowering, hypoglycemic and immunomodulatory activities.
Indications
Why are beta-glucans used? What are they for?
Classically, beta-glucans are used in the nutritional field for their cholesterol-lowering, hypoglycemic and immunomodulatory properties.
These activities essentially derive from the following biological properties.
Reaching the intestinal environment unaltered, beta-glucans would exert on the one hand a chelating action against glucose and dietary cholesterol, making their absorption poorer, and on the other hand they would facilitate their elimination through the faeces.
Furthermore, according to recent evidence, the fraction of beta glucans digested in the large intestine would give rise to bioactive glycosides and oligosaccharides, whose biological properties, not yet fully known, would justify the immunomodulating role of these nutrients.
Once introduced with food or through specific dietary supplements, beta-glucans would be able to activate the immune system in a gentle and balanced way, stimulating the activity of phagocytes (a subclass of white blood cells that has the task of trapping and destroying substances foreign, such as fungi, viruses, parasites and bacteria).
There would therefore be no risk of inducing that exaggerated immune response underlying many allergic phenomena and autoimmune diseases.
Benefits and Properties
What benefits have beta-glucans shown during the studies?
There are various scientific evidences relating to the clinical usefulness of beta-glucans, especially in the nutritional and dietotherapy fields.
From a "careful review of the literature, the regular consumption of beta-glucans:
- It would cause a reduction in blood cholesterol concentrations of over 10%;
- It would guarantee an improvement in the relationship between LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol;
- It would improve the patient's glycemic profile, making the absorption of dietary sugars more gradual;
- It would improve the insulin response to the glucose load;
- It would contribute, in vitro, to enhance the activity of macrophages, supporting non-specific primary defenses;
- It would increase the sense of satiety during low-calorie diets, improving compliance.
Dosage and method of use
How to use beta-glucans
The effective doses of beta-glucans obviously depend on the purpose.
For example, doses between 3 and 6 g per day, divided into two intakes before meals, would have proved effective both as a cholesterol-lowering remedy and for satiating power.
Side effects
The use of beta-glucans has generally been shown to be safe and well tolerated.
However, especially in some predisposed subjects, the consumption of beta-glucans could induce unpleasant intestinal manifestations, such as bloating and cramping pains.
Contraindications
When should beta-glucans not be used?
The use of beta-glucans is contraindicated in case of hypersensitivity to the active substance or to the extraction source.
Pharmacological interactions
What drugs or foods can modify the effect of beta-glucans?
There are no known drug interactions worth mentioning.
However, it should be remembered how, in a contextual administration, beta-glucans could reduce intestinal absorption and therefore the bioavailability of active ingredients, vitamins and minerals.
Precautions for use
What do i need to know before taking beta-glucans?
The use of Beta-glucans should take place with particular caution and under medical supervision in patients suffering from irritable bowel syndrome or other functional and organic disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.
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