Beta-glucans are found on the surface of potentially pathogenic microorganisms like bacteria or yeasts, which means the presence of these beta-glucans in the body can signal to the immune system that a pathogen is present and it’s time to mount an immune response. When fungal beta-glucans are supplemented directly, the same effect may be achieved without the infective pathogen. Accordingly, preliminary research has tended to report that fungal beta-glucans may enhance immune function, which could be useful in a variety of contexts.
Fungal beta-glucans may bolster the body’s ability to fight infection. Yeast beta-glucans have been reported to reduce the incidence, duration, and symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) in both children and adults, as well as in athletes who may be prone to exercise-induced immune suppression. However, most of these studies have been industry funded, which has the potential to introduce bias.[1]
These immune-stimulating properties may also be useful in the context of wound healing. While supported by in vitro and animal research, only a few clinical trials have examined this effect, and only one has been a randomized controlled trial.[2] This limited research suggests that cream containing 2–3% yeast beta-glucans might promote the healing of stubborn wounds, like venous ulcers or diabetic ulcers.[3][4][5][6]
Lastly, fungal beta-glucans may have a role as an adjuvant to chemotherapy for cancer treatment. In China and Japan, there are prescription-grade beta-glucans specifically formulated for intravenous use that appear to be effective as an adjuvant to chemotherapy, improving response rates, quality of life, and 1-year survival.[7] Research looking at whether oral beta-glucans provide the same effect is limited. Some noncontrolled studies have reported improvements in immune function and quality of life, but the evidence is weak and more research is needed.[8][9]
References
- ^Zhong K, Liu Z, Lu Y, Xu XEffects of yeast β-glucans for the prevention and treatment of upper respiratory tract infection in healthy subjects: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Eur J Nutr.(2021 Dec)
- ^Majtan J, Jesenak Mβ-Glucans: Multi-Functional Modulator of Wound Healing.Molecules.(2018 Apr 1)
- ^Zykova SN, Balandina KA, Vorokhobina NV, Kuznetsova AV, Engstad R, Zykova TAMacrophage stimulating agent soluble yeast β-1,3/1,6-glucan as a topical treatment of diabetic foot and leg ulcers: A randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled phase II study.J Diabetes Investig.(2014 Jul)
- ^Medeiros SDV, Cordeiro SL, Cavalcanti JEC, Melchuna KM, Lima AMDS, Filho IA, Medeiros AC, Rocha KBF, Oliveira EM, Faria EDB, Sassaki GL, Rocha HAO, Sales VSFEffects of purified Saccharomyces cerevisiae (1→3)-β-glucan on venous ulcer healing.Int J Mol Sci.(2012)
- ^Karaaslan O, Kankaya Y, Sungur N, Kocer U, Sedat Cuzdan S, Sahin B, Uysal ACase series of topical and orally administered β-glucan for the treatment of diabetic wounds: clinical study.J Cutan Med Surg.(2012 May-Jun)
- ^King B, Barrett S, Cutting KFClinical evaluation of a bioactive beta-glucan gel in the treatment of 'hard-to-heal' wounds.J Wound Care.(2017 Feb 2)
- ^Caseiro C, Dias JNR, de Andrade Fontes CMG, Bule PFrom Cancer Therapy to Winemaking: The Molecular Structure and Applications of β-Glucans and β-1, 3-Glucanases.Int J Mol Sci.(2022 Mar 15)
- ^Yamaguchi Y, Miyahara E, Hihara JEfficacy and safety of orally administered Lentinula edodes mycelia extract for patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy: a pilot study.Am J Chin Med.(2011)
- ^Ostadrahimi A, Esfahani A, Asghari Jafarabadi M, Eivazi Ziaei J, Movassaghpourakbari A, Farrin NEffect of Beta glucan on quality of life in women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial.Adv Pharm Bull.(2014 Oct)