Clinical and Physiological Perspectives of β-Glucans: The Past, Present, and Future

Abstract

β-Glucans are a group of biologically-active fibers or polysaccharides from natural sources with proven medical significance. β-Glucans are known to have antitumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, anti-allergic, anti-osteoporotic, and immunomodulating activities. β-Glucans are natural bioactive compounds and can be taken orally, as a food supplement, or as part of a daily diet, and are considered safe to use. The medical significance and efficiency of β-glucans are confirmed in vitro, as well as using animal- and human-based clinical studies. However, systematic study on the clinical and physiological significance of β-glucans is scarce. In this review, we not only discuss the clinical and physiological importance of β-glucans, we also compare their biological activities through the existing in vitro and animal-based in vivo studies. This review provides extensive data on the clinical study of β-glucans.

Alleviating effects of β‐glucan inOreochromis niloticuson growth performance, immune reactions, antioxidant, transcriptomics disorders and resistance toAeromonas sobriacaused by atrazine

“…Our findings for tilapia supplemented with βG and exposed to ATZ indicate that βG protects the liver from injury, as signified by an improvement in ALT and AST and markers of hepatic dysfunction (Khalil et al, ). βG also has hepato‐protective effects against liver damage from other toxicants (Bashir & Choi, ; El‐Murr et al, ).…”

Ingestion of Exopolymers from Aureobasidium pullulans Reduces the Duration of Cold and Flu Symptoms: A Randomized, Placebo‐Controlled Intervention Study

“…The various biological activities of -glucan were verified through in vitro testing, animal testing, and clinical trials [12]. Recently, the effectiveness of -glucan on respiratory diseases has been studied in rodent [30] and human [31][32][33] because their prevalence has increased rapidly.…”

“…-1,3/1,6-glucan is derived from yeast cell walls and modulates many in vivo and in vitro activities [12,13]. Its main immunopharmacological activities [14][15][16] are associated with antitumor effects [17], increased host resistance to viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections [18], and adjuvant effects [19].…”

“…It has been reported that the extracellular polysaccharides isolated from Aureobasidium pullulans are pullulan (poly--1,6-maltotriose-based exopolysaccharide, EPS) [20], aubasidan ( -1,3-D-glucan with -1,6-branches to -1,4 side chains) [21], and -glucan ( -1,3/1,6-D-glucan) [22]. However, the physiological activity of polysaccharides produced by Aureobasidium pullulans has been mainly studied for -1,3/1,6-D-glucan [12]. Exopolymers purified from Aureobasidium pullulans SM-2001 (EAP; its solubility is about 10% in water), the test food material used in this study, containing 13% -1,3/1,6-glucan [23], are used in foods and have shown potent immunomodulatory activities in a mouse model [16].…”

“…Many reports have described the immunomodulatory activities of -glucan against immune-related diseases [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19], but only a few reports have described its effects against colds and flu. For this reason, a clinical study is now being performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of -glucan from Aureobasidium pullulans against colds and flu in patients.…”