What Are the Benefits of Beta Glucan?

There are many potential benefits of beta glucan to the human body, including its ability to lower cholesterol, strengthen the immune system, and fight cancer. Beta glucans are composed of sugar compounds called polysaccharides. The substance is found in yeast cells, mushrooms, as well as oat fibers, so it is what actually lowers cholesterol in a person who consumes oat bran. Acting as a stimulant for macrophages, or white blood cells in the immune system, beta glucan can also ward off diseases of the colon and control diabetes. It can also reduce the risk of someone developing heart disease as a result of high cholesterol levels.

Beta glucan can often be beneficial to people who are overweight and need to lower their cholesterol. It can be processed into food or even integrated into a fruit drink. When taken in pill form, dosage needs to be carefully considered but is not the only factor in its effectiveness. A uniform small size of the particles is necessary for the immune system to process beta glucan, as they tend to clump together during digestion and become too large to have any effect. Chemical and structural differences can also affect the quality of such a product independent of the dosage.

The substance is able to stimulate the activity of immune cells. Beta glucans and immunity is widely studied because of the benefits of beta glucan on fighting respiratory infections and turning immune cells on viruses. These effects are maintained even during high levels of exercise and stress, as studies with mice have indicated. It can also trigger macrophages to attack cancer cells as well as the healing of damaged tissues in the body. For people with diabetes, the benefits of beta glucan include a lower blood sugar level after eating, and higher insulin sensitivity in cells, which can help manage the disease.

Beta glucan is also able to concentrate carboxylic acid in the colon, which may help mitigate serious diseases such as colon cancer and ulcerative colitis. It comes in many varieties with different levels of quality. The benefits of beta glucan are usually best seen with high quality types with small particles, which which remain viable even after digestion. There are no known side effects from taking the substance, but clinical trials as of 2010 have not found a specific dosage for using beta glucan to treat conditions or to boost the immune system.