Baker's yeast β-glucan supplementation increases monocytes and cytokines post-exercise: implications for infection risk?

Abstract

Strenuous aerobic exercise is known to weaken the immune system, and while many nutritional supplements have been proposed to boost post-exercise immunity, few are known to be effective. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate whether 10 d of supplementation with a defined source of baker's yeast b-glucan (BG, Wellmune WGP w ) could minimise post-exercise immunosuppression. Recreationally active men and women (n 60) completed two 10 d trial conditions using a cross-over design with a 7 d washout period: placebo (rice flour) and baker's yeast BG (250 mg/d of b-1,3/1,6-glucans derived from Saccharomyces cerevisiae) before a bout of cycling (49^6 min) in a hot (38^28C), humid (45^2 % relative humidity) environment. Blood was collected at baseline (before supplement), pre-(PRE), post-(POST) and 2 h (2H) post-exercise. Total and subset monocyte concentration was measured by four-colour flow cytometry. Plasma cytokine levels and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated cytokine production were measured using separate multiplex assays. Total (CD14 þ ) and pro-inflammatory monocyte concentrations (CD14 þ /CD16 þ ) were significantly greater at POST and 2H (P, 0·05) with BG supplementation. BG supplementation boosted LPS-stimulated production of IL-2, IL-4, IL-5 and interferon-g (IFN-g) at PRE and POST (P,0·05). Plasma IL-4, IL-5 and IFN-g concentrations were greater at 2H following BG supplementation. It appears that 10 d of supplementation with BG increased the potential of blood leucocytes for the production of IL-2, IL-4, IL-5 and IFN-g. The key findings of the present study demonstrate that BG may have potential to alter immunity following a strenuous exercise session.

Immune-modulatory effects of dietary Yeast Beta-1,3/1,6-D-glucan

“…Blood analysis showed that ingestion of β-glucans significantly increases the total number of monocytes as well as of pro-inflammatory monocytes (p < 0.05). Further ex vivo LPS stimulation significantly increased plasma cytokine production of IL-2, Il-4, IL-5, and interferon-gamma [46]. …”

Genotoxicity and subchronic toxicity evaluation of dried Euglena gracilis ATCC PTA-123017

“…The ability of insoluble beta-glucan particulates to prime the immune system is the basis for development of a variety of fungal and yeast-based functional foods that are currently marketed for food use (GRN 239,309,413). For example, the consumption of baker's yeast beta-glucan has been reported to minimize postexercise immunosuppression, and may decrease the severity and the duration of upper respiratory tract infections (Fuller et al, 2012;Carpenter et al, 2013). Similar to beta-1,3-glucans originating from fungal/yeast sources, paramylon also appears to have immune priming properties (Kankkunen et al, 2010).…”

ß-glucanos: ¿qué tipos existen y cuáles son sus beneficios en la salud?

“…En un estudio en doble ciego y controlado por placebo realizado en 24 pacientes con rinitis alérgica, el uso de β-glucanos por 12 semanas disminuyó las concentraciones de IL-4 e IL-5 en el fluido nasal sin cambios en el grupo placebo (59). El suplemento de β-glucanos por 10 días durante y post ejercicio aumentó el potencial de los leucocitos sanguíneos para producir IL-2, IL-4, IL-5 e IFN-γ, sugiriendo que los β-glucanos son capaces de modular la inmunidad después del ejercicio (60). Sólo un estudio realizado con ratones Balb/c comparó los 2 tipos de β-glucanos PGG y WGP.…”