Beta glucan and
cholesterol lowering, does this dietary supplement help, can it be combined with
other dietary supplement pills? Does it lower lipid levels?
Oat research and the influence of this nutrient on immune system
health
Beta glucan is a naturally derived polysaccharide which has been studied for its anti-tumor and immuno-stimulating properties, and also for blood sugar and cholesterol.
Source Naturals Beta Glucan for
cholesterol management

Beta Glucan is a unique polysaccharide composed of glucose molecules extracted and purified from the cell wall of common baker's yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Beta glucan is used to maintain or stimulate the effectiveness of the immune system. Animal and human cell culture studies have shown that beta glucan can stimulate several aspects of immune function, such as phagocytosis and interleukin production. Source Naturals Beta Glucan uses a purification process that removes the manoproteins and yeast residues that may reduce the effectiveness of beta glucan.
Immunity and
beta glucan
The carbohydrate polymers known as beta-1,3-d-glucans exert potent effects on
the immune system - stimulating anti-tumor and antimicrobial activity, for example - by
binding to receptors on macrophages and other white blood cells and activating them.
Although beta-glucans are known to bind to receptors, such as complement receptor 3, there
is evidence that another beta-glucan receptor is present on macrophages.
Conditions where Beta
glucan product
may be effective
Beta glucan may be helpful in diabetes and heart disease. The addition of beta-glucan
predictably reduces the Glycemic Index. In a 50 g carbohydrate portion each gram of
beta-glucan reduces the GI by 4 units, making it a useful functional food component for
reducing postprandial glycemia.
Beta Glucan and
cholesterol management
Fruit drinks enriched with the soluble fiber beta-glucan can lower levels
of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, the "bad" cholesterol, according
to results of a study conducted in the Netherlands.
Dr. Ronald P. Mensink, of Maastricht University, and colleagues evaluated
25 healthy subjects who drank a fruit drink containing beta-glucan from
oats and 22 healthy subjects who drank a fruit drink containing 5 grams of
rice starch, which served as a placebo. All of the subjects drank the
juice every day for five weeks.
Blood samples were obtained before and after the study to measure fats,
fat proteins and fat-soluble antioxidants. Non-cholesterol sterols were
also measured as markers of cholesterol absorption, and lathosterol was
measured to evaluate cholesterol synthesis.
Compared with the placebo group, total cholesterol was reduced by 4.8
percent and LDL cholesterol by 7.7 percent in the beta-glucan group.
The investigators also found that the beta-glucan drink decreased
cholesterol absorption and increased synthesis, without affecting levels
of fat-soluble antioxidants.
The reason beta-glucan lowers LDL cholesterol is not known, they continue.
One possible mechanism is that beta-glucan binds with bile acids or
increases intestinal viscosity. This results in a decreased reabsorption
of bile acids and increased fecal bile acid excretion.
As a result, there is an increase in bile acid synthesis and excretion in
the intestine. Cholesterol synthesis in the liver increases at the same
time due to a greater need for cholesterol in bile acid production. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, March 2006.
Beta glucan and
blood pressure
Effects of consuming foods containing oat beta-glucan on blood pressure,
carbohydrate metabolism and biomarkers of oxidative stress in men and women with
elevated blood pressure.
Eur J Clin Nutr. 2007 Jun;61(6):786-95. Maki KC, Galant R, Samuel P, Tesser
J, Witchger MS, Ribaya-Mercado JD, Blumberg JB, Geohas J. Radiant Research,
Chicago, IL, USA.
Ninety-seven men and women with resting systolic blood pressure 130-179 mm Hg
and/or diastolic blood pressure 85-109 mm Hg were randomly assigned to consume
foods containing oat beta-glucan or control foods for 12 weeks. The results of
the present trial suggest beneficial effects of foods containing beta-glucan
from oats on carbohydrate metabolism, and on blood pressure in obese subjects.
Beta-Glucan studies
Sweeteners and beta-glucans improve metabolic and anthropometrics variables in
well controlled type 2 diabetic patients.
Reyna NY. University of Zulia, Maracaibo,
Venezuela.
Am J Ther. 2003 Nov-Dec;10(6):438-43.
The introduction of fat and carbohydrates replacers has been a revolutionary
advance in treating obesity and diabetes mellitus. Since these materials have
shown to have beneficial effects on the metabolic profiles of diabetic patients,
they should be useful in designing specific foods for patients with diabetes.
To compare metabolic and anthropometric improvements elicited by a
diet based on the American Diabetic Association's nutrition recommendations with
a modified, low-energy diet incorporating fat replacers and non-sucrose
sweeteners. A total of 16 male, well controlled type 2 diabetes patients
were divided into two groups of eight; one group received the diet based on the
American Diabetic Association's nutrition recommendations, and the other was fed
a modified, low-calorie diet containing a fat replacer (beta-glucans derived
from oats) and the sweeteners, sucralose and fructose. Both groups were
maintained on their respective diets for 4 weeks. All patients performed daily
aerobic exercise consisting of walking for 60 minutes. Body weight, body mass
index, basal glycemia, hemoglobin HbA1C, and lipid profile were determined in
each patient before starting the diets and after 4 weeks of dietary
intervention. Both diets produced significant improvements in weight,
body mass index, lipid profile, basal glucose, and HbA1C. However, the
experimental diet was superior to the American Diabetic Association's diet in
improving metabolic and anthropometric profile: greater increase in HDL
cholesterol and larger decreases in HbA1C, weight, and body mass index.
A diet incorporating a beta-glucans and non-sucrose sweeteners
produced a greater improvement in metabolic and anthropometric variables in well
controlled type 2 diabetic patients when compared with a diet based on American
Diabetic Association's nutrition recommendations.
Beta glucan
supplement benefit
questions
I have celiac disease. I assume the barley beta glucan has gluten in it, but
want to make sure as I would like to be able to take it.
This is a good question. We are not sure whether beta glucan
would have any effect, positive or negative, in those with celiac disease.
Does
yohimbe bark net interact with beta glucan benefits and cause side
efffects?
We doubt beta glucan effects will be influenced or the immune
system influenced by the occasional use of the aphrodisiac product.