The immune system protects the body from infection by creating and maintaining barriers that prevent bacteria and viruses from entering the body. If a pathogen breaches the barriers, and gets into the body, the innate immune system is equipped with specialized cells that detect, and often eliminate, the invader before it is able to reproduce, potentially causing serious injury to the host.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immune_system
Recommended by chemist and author Roger Mason in his book
What is Beta Glucan? (download)
* The only yeast beta glucan to deliver both the purity and potency needed for optimal beta glucan efficacy is found in Source4Good brand Beta Glucan capsules. Its immune-supportive properties are backed by numerous clinical and preclinical studies.
* A complex polysaccharide composed of glucose molecules extracted and purified from the cell wall of bakers yeast.
Beta Glucan is a unique polysaccharide derived from bakers yeast. Animal and human cell culture studies have shown that beta glucan can stimulate several aspects of immune function, such as phagocytosis and interleukin production. Phagocytosis is the process of a white blood cell engulfing and destroying a foreign substance. Interleukin is a chemical mediator that triggers white blood cell production and activity. Beta Glucan 1,3/1,6 is a highly potent form of beta glucan. It is purified using a process that removes the mannoprotein and yeast residues in the yeast cell well. These compounds may interfere with beta glucans activity.
NO added ingredients such as dibasic calcium phosphate, stearic acid, colloidal silicon doxide and modified cellulose gum
It is a powerful immune enhancer, which also helps reduce total cholesterol levels and LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels, as well as raising HDL ("good") cholesterol levels.
Beta-glucan is a fiber-type complex sugar (polysaccharide) derived from the cell wall of baker’s yeast, barley and oat fiber, and many medicinal mushrooms. In their natural states, yeast and mushrooms contain a mixture of beta-1,3-glucan and beta-1,6-glucan. As a dietary supplement, beta-glucan is available in liquid form, and in capsules and tablets.
The two main uses of beta-glucan are in enhancing the immune system and in lowering blood cholesterol levels. Experimental studies in test tubes and animals have shown beta-glucan to activate white blood cells.1 2 3 4 5 In fact, there have been hundreds of research papers on beta-glucan since the 1960s.6 The research indicates that beta-1,3-glucan, in particular, is very effective at activating white blood cells known as macrophages and neutrophils. These cells provide one of the immune system’s first lines of defense against foreign invaders. A beta-glucan-activated macrophage or neutrophil can remove cellular debris resulting from oxidative damage, speed up recovery of damaged tissue, and further activate other components of the immune system.7 8
Beta-glucan is the key factor for the cholesterol-lowering effect of oat bran.9 10 11 12 13 The binding of cholesterol (and bile acids) by beta-glucan and the resulting elimination of these molecules in the feces is very helpful for reducing blood cholesterol.14 15 16 Results from a number of double-blind trials with either oat- or yeast-derived beta-glucan indicate typical reductions, after at least four weeks of use, of approximately 10% for total cholesterol and 8% for LDL ("bad") cholesterol, with elevations in HDL ("good") cholesterol ranging from zero to 16%.17 18 19 20 21
Beta-glucan is, according to preliminary studies, helpful in reducing the elevation in blood sugar levels that typically follow a meal.22 23 24 25 Beta-glucan delays gastric emptying so that dietary sugar is absorbed more gradually, and by possibly increasing the tissue sensitivity to insulin.
Manufacturers of beta-glucan products usually recommend between 50 and 1,000 mg daily (to be taken on an empty stomach), although some products contain as much as 500 mg per capsule.
References
1. Czop JK. The role of beta-glucan receptors on blood and tissue leukocytes in phagocytosis and metabolic activation. Pathol Immunopathol Res 1986;5:286-96.
2. Wakshull E, Brunke-Reese D, Lindermuth J, et al. PGG-glucan, a soluble beta-(1,3)-glucan, enhances the oxidative burst response, microbicidal activity, and activates an NF-kappa B-like factor in human PMN: evidence for a glycosphingolipid beta-(1,3)-glucan receptor. Immunopharmacology 1999;41:89-107.
3. Czop JK, Kay J. Isolation and characterization of beta-glucan receptors on human mononuclear phagocytes. J Exp Med 1991;173:1511-20.
4. Czop JK, Puglisi AV, Miorandi DZ, Austen KF. Perturbation of beta-glucan receptors on human neutrophils initiates phagocytosis and leukotriene B4 production. J Immunol 1988;141:3170-6.
5. Estrada A, Yun CH, Van Kessel A, et al. Immunomodulatory activities of oat beta-glucan in vitro and in vivo. Microbiol Immunol 1997;41:991-8.
6. Ooi VE, Liu F. Immunomodulation and anti-cancer activity of polysaccharide-protein complexes. Curr Med Chem 2000;7:715-29 [review].
7. Ross GD, Vetvicka V, Yan J, et al. Therapeutic intervention with complement and beta-glucan in cancer. Immunopharmacology 1999;42:61-74.
8. Di Renzo L, Yefenof E, Klein E. The function of human NK cells is enhanced by beta-glucan, a ligand of CR3 (CD11b/CD18). Eur J Immunol 1991 Jul;21:1755-8.
9. Bell S, Goldman VM, Bistrian BR, et al. Effect of beta-glucan from oats and yeast on serum lipids. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 1999;39:189-202 [review].
10. Bell S, Goldman VM, Bistrian BR, et al. Effect of beta-glucan from oats and yeast on serum lipids. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 1999;39:189-202 [review].
11. Behall KM, Scholfield DJ, Hallfrisch J. Effect of beta-glucan level in oat fiber extracts on blood lipids in men and women. J Am Coll Nutr 1997;16:46-51.
12. Braaten JT, Wood PJ, Scott FW, et al. Oat beta-glucan reduces blood cholesterol concentration in hypercholesterolemic subjects. Eur J Clin Nutr 1994;48:465-74.
13. Davidson MH, Dugan LD, Burns JH, et al. The hypocholesterolemic effects of beta-glucan in oatmeal and oat bran. A dose-controlled study. JAMA 1991;265:1833-9.
14. Wood PJ. Physicochemical properties and physiological effects of the (1----3)(1----4)-beta-D-glucan from oats. Adv Exp Med Biol 1990;270:119-27.
15. Uusitupa MI, Miettinen TA, Sarkkinen ES, et al. Lathosterol and other non-cholesterol sterols during treatment of hypercholesterolaemia with beta-glucan-rich oat bran. Eur J Clin Nutr 1997;51:607-11.
16. Lia A, Hallmans G, Sandberg AS, et al. Oat beta-glucan increases bile acid excretion and a fiber-rich barley fraction increases cholesterol excretion in ileostomy subjects. Am J Clin Nutr 1995;62:1245-51.
17. Bell S, Goldman VM, Bistrian BR, et al. Effect of beta-glucan from oats and yeast on serum lipids. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 1999;39:189-202 [review].
18. Nicolosi R, Bell SJ, Bistrian BR, et al. Plasma lipid changes after supplementation with beta-glucan fiber from yeast. Am J Clin Nutr 1999;70:208-12.
19. Behall KM, Scholfield DJ, Hallfrisch J. Effect of beta-glucan level in oat fiber extracts on blood lipids in men and women. J Am Coll Nutr 1997;16:46-51.
20. Braaten JT, Wood PJ, Scott FW, et al. Oat beta-glucan reduces blood cholesterol concentration in hypercholesterolemic subjects. Eur J Clin Nutr 1994;48:465-74.
21. Uusitupa MI, Ruuskanen E, Makinen E, et al. A controlled study on the effect of beta-glucan-rich oat bran on serum lipids in hypercholesterolemic subjects: relation to apolipoprotein E phenotype. J Am Coll Nutr 1992;11:651-9.
22. Braaten JT, Scott FW, Wood PJ, et al. High beta-glucan oat bran and oat gum reduce postprandial blood glucose and insulin in subjects with and without type 2 diabetes. Diabet Med 1994;11:312-8.
23. Wood PJ. Physicochemical properties and physiological effects of the (1----3)(1----4)-beta-D-glucan from oats. Adv Exp Med Biol 1990;270:119-27.
24. Bourdon I, Yokoyama W, Davis P, et al. Postprandial lipid, glucose, insulin, and cholecystokinin responses in men fed barley pasta enriched with beta-glucan. Am J Clin Nutr 1999;69:55-63.
25. Pick ME, Hawrysh ZJ, Gee MI. Oat bran concentrate bread products improve long-term control of diabetes: a pilot study. J Am Diet Assoc 1996;96:1254-61.
It is a powerful immune enhancer, which also helps reduce total cholesterol levels and LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels, as well as raising HDL ("good") cholesterol levels.
Beta Glucan is a fiber-type polysaccharide derived from the cell walls of oat, fiber, yeast, and some mushrooms. Beta Glucan derived from yeast and mushrooms contain a mixture of beta-1,3-glucan and beta-1,6-glucan.
Numerous experimental studies have shown that beta glucan activates white blood cells known as macrophages and neutrophils. Beta Glucan activated macrophages or neutrophils can recognize and kill tumor cells, remove cellular debris resulting from oxidative damage, speed up recovery of damaged tissue, and further activate other components of the immune system.
Suggested Use: Take one capsule daily.
