Beta-Glucan

Common Name(s): Beta-1,3-glucan, Beta-1,6-glucan, Beta-glucans

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Dec 22, 2021.

Clinical Overview

Use

Reviews providing an overview of the beta-glucans focus largely on preventive roles in cancer and diseases related to the cardiovascular and immune systems. For more detailed information, see the individual monographs for the beta-glucan sources (Brewer's Yeast, Lentinan [shiitake], Maitake [grifola], Seaweed, Oats, and Barley).

Dosing

See individual monographs for dosing recommendations for the specific beta-glucan sources.

Contraindications

See individual monographs for information related to the specific beta-glucan sources.

Pregnancy/Lactation

Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking. See individual monographs for information related to the specific beta-glucan sources.

Interactions

See individual monographs for interactions related to the specific beta-glucan sources.

Adverse Reactions

Inhalation of beta-glucan particulate matter has been shown to have acute negative effects (ie, increases) on blood pressure.

See individual monographs for adverse events related to the specific beta-glucan sources.

Toxicology

See individual monographs for toxicology information related to the specific beta-glucan sources.

Source

Natural sources of beta-glucans include fungal cell walls, seaweed, oats, and barley. Although collectively termed beta-glucans, variations in composition exist because of derivation from different natural sources; batch variations also occur due to differing growth conditions. Synthetic substances are being developed to overcome such variations, but until these become widely available, information for beta-glucans depends on the source: See Brewer's Yeast, Lentinan (shiitake), Maitake (grifola), Seaweed, Oats, and Barley individual monographs.Kim 2006, Laroche 2007, Novak 2009

History

Beta-glucans have been used in traditional medicine, especially in Japan, and have been studied for many years, particularly for their potential use as immunomodulators. Traditional Chinese and Asian medicines used medicinal mushrooms as a source of beta-glucan, while in the United States, early research focused on the immunomodulatory effects of zymosan derived from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.Novak 2009

Chemistry

Beta-glucans are carbohydrates; specifically, they are polymers of glucose units, either linear (with beta-1,3-glycosidic linkages) or branched with side-chains (with beta-1,6-glycosidic linkages). Beta-glucans from mushrooms and the cell wall of baker's yeast consist of D-glucose with beta-1,3 linkages and some beta-1,6 side branches, whereas the composition of cereal beta-glucan are unbranched and include beta-1,3 and beta-1,4-glycosidic linkages.Laroche 2007, Nieman 2008, Novak 2009

Uses and Pharmacology

Reviews provide an overview of the beta-glucansChen 2007, Chen 2008, Mantovani 2008, Novak 2008, Novak 2009, Volman 2008 as well as meta-analyses of studies using cereal beta-glucan in the modification of lipids and lentinan in gastric cancer.Haggård 2013, Kelly 2007, Oba 2009, Talati 2009 Clinical trials and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials have assessed the effects of beta-glucan extr...