Beta-glucans
Scientific names: 1-3,1-6-beta-glucan, beta-1,3-D-glucan, beta-1-6,1,3-beta-glucan
Alternate names: B-Glucane d'Avoine, Barley Beta-Glucan, Barley B-Glucan, Beta Glucan, Beta-Glucan, Bêta-Glucane, Bêta-Glucane d'Avoine, Bêta-Glucane d'Orge, Bêta-Glucane Dérivé de la Levure, Bêta-glucanes, Beta Glucanos, Beta Glycans, Beta-Glycans, Oat Beta Glucan, Oat B-Glucan, Pleuran, Yeast-Derived Beta Glucan
Actions: Antiallergy, Anticancer, Anti-infective, Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, Blood pressure-lowering, Cholesterol-reducing, Dermatologic, Gastrointestinal, Glucose-regulatory, Immunomodulatory, Weight loss, Wound-healing
Background
Beta-glucans are soluble fibers that come from the cell walls of bacteria, fungi, yeasts, and some plants. They might lower the risk for heart disease.
Beta-glucans might prevent the body from absorbing cholesterol from food. They might also stimulate the immune system by increasing chemicals that prevent infections. The US FDA allows products containing at least 750 mg of beta-glucans to have a health claim stating that they might reduce heart disease risk.
Beta-glucans are most commonly used for heart disease and high cholesterol. They are also used for many other conditions, such as eczema and diabetes, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these other uses.
Beta-glucans might prevent the body from absorbing cholesterol from food. They might also stimulate the immune system by increasing chemicals that prevent infections. The US FDA allows products containing at least 750 mg of beta-glucans to have a health claim stating that they might reduce heart disease risk.
Beta-glucans are most commonly used for heart disease and high cholesterol. They are also used for many other conditions, such as eczema and diabetes, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these other uses.
Safety Safety definitions
When taken by mouth: Beta-glucans are commonly consumed in foods. Taking larger amounts of beta-glucans as medicine is possibly safe for up to 8-12 weeks. There have been no reported side effects from taking beta-glucans by mouth.
When applied to the skin: Beta-glucans are possibly safe when used for a short time period. They can cause skin rash in some people.
When applied to the skin: Beta-glucans are possibly safe when used for a short time period. They can cause skin rash in some people.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if beta-glucans are safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.Effectiveness
NatMed Pro rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.
Likely effective Effectiveness definitions
- Heart disease. Eating at least 3.6 grams of beta-glucans or other soluble fibers daily as part of a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet might help prevent heart disease. Oat and barley products contain large amounts of beta-glucans.
- High cholesterol. Taking beta-glucans made from oats or barley by mouth for several weeks seems to reduce total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad") cholesterol in people with high cholesterol.
Dosing & administration
Beta-glucans that come from oats or barley have most often been used by adults in doses of 2-6 grams by mouth daily for 3-12 weeks. Beta-glucans that come from yeast have most often been used in doses of 250-500 mg by mouth daily for 4-12 weeks. Beta-glucans are also applied to the skin in creams or other solutions. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what dose or product might be best for a specific condition.
Interactions with pharmaceuticals
Medications for high blood pressure (Antihypertensive drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Beta-glucans might lower blood pressure. Taking beta-glucans along with medications that lower blood pressure might cause blood pressure to go too low. Monitor your blood pressure closely.
Medications that decrease the immune system (Immunosuppressants)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Beta-glucans can increase the activity of the immune system. Some medications, such as those used after a transplant, decrease the activity of the immune system. Taking beta-glucans along with these medications might decrease the effects of these medications.
Interactions with herbs & supplements
Herbs and supplements that might lower blood pressure: Beta-glucans might lower blood pressure. Taking it with other supplements that have the same effect might cause blood pressure to drop too much.
Sweet orange: Sweet orange contains compounds that might be beneficial for health. Taking beta-glucans with sweet orange might reduce how much of these compounds the body absorbs.
Sweet orange: Sweet orange contains compounds that might be beneficial for health. Taking beta-glucans with sweet orange might reduce how much of these compounds the body absorbs.
Interactions with foods
There are no known interactions with foods.
Products
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Per capsule:
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SB) 625 mg equiv. bakers yeast beta glucan 125 mg equiv. beta glucan 93.75 mg
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae (boulardii) (SB) 125 mg
- Cordyceps sinensis powder 25 mg
- Grifola frondosa powder 25 mg
- Lentinula edodes powder 25 mg
- Ganoderma lucidum ext. 25 mg
- Polyporus umbellatus powder 25 mg
- Tremella fuciformis 25 mg
- Silybum marianum ext. 1.98 mg
- Vaccinium macrocarpon powder 1.98 mg
- Lutein 79 µg
- Camellia sinensis ext. 3.96 mg
- Schisandra chinensis ext. 1.59 mg
- Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina) 1.59 mg
- Euterpe oleracea (berry) ext. (Acai) 1.189 mg
- Citrus sinensis ext. 1.59 mg
- Curcuma longa ext. 440 µg
- Zingiber officinale ext. 1.98 mg
- Phyllanthus emblica ext. 4.76 mg
- Laminaria digitara (Kelp) 1.59 mg
- Poria cocos ext. 25 mg
- Cruciferous vegetable blend 15.853 mg
- Live vegetable blend 11.892 mg
- Ultra fruit blend 7.927 mg
- Multi herb blend 15.853 mg
- Chlorella vulgaris powder 1.59 mg
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Per tablet:
Practitioner product
Per capsule:
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SB) 35.72 mg equiv. bakers yeast beta glucan 178.6 mg
- L-glutamic acid 25 mg
- Glutamic acid hydrochloride 25 mg
- Echinacea angustifolia ext. 25 mg
- Cichorium intybus powder 33.19 mg
- Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis 0.5 billion CFU
- Bifidobacterium bifidum 0.5 billion CFU
- Bifidobacterium infantis 0.5 billion CFU
- Lactobacillus acidophilus 0.5 billion CFU
- Lactobacillus brevis 0.25 billion CFU
- Lactobacillus casei 0.25 billion CFU
- Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus 0.25 billion CFU
- Lactobacillus fermentum 0.25 billion CFU
- Lactobacillus gasseri 0.25 billion CFU
- Lactobacillus helveticus 0.25 billion CFU
- Lactobacillus paracasei 0.5 billion CFU
- Lactobacillus plantarum 0.25 billion CFU
- Lactobacillus reuteri 0.25 billion CFU
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus 0.25 billion CFU
- Lactobacillus salivarius 0.25 billion CFU
- Lipase 600 LipU
- Polyporus umbellatus powder 50 mg
- Grifola frondosa powder 50 mg
- Cordyceps sinensis powder 50 mg
- Ganoderma lucidum powder 25 mg
- Poria cocos ext. 25 mg
- Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina) 55 mg
- Yeast 25 mg equiv. selenium 50 µg
- Iberis amara ext. 50 mg
- Apple pectin 25 mg
- Yucca gloriosa ext. 25 mg
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Per tablet:
- Avena sativa (Oats) ext. 25 mg
- Thiamine hydrochloride (Vitamin B1) 75 mg
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) 10 mg
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) 100 mg
- Calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5) 75 mg equiv. pantothenic acid 68.8 mg
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) 25 mg equiv. pyridoxine 20.6 mg
- Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) 30 µg
- Passiflora incarnata ext. 20 mg
- Biotin 20 µg
- Calcium ascorbate dihydrate (Vitamin C) 145 mg equiv. ascorbic acid 130 mg
- d-alpha-Tocopheryl acid succinate 41.3 mg equiv. vitamin E 50 µg
- Magnesium phosphate pentahydrate 140 mg equiv. magnesium 28.9 mg
- Calcium phosphate 100 mg equiv. calcium 37 mg
- Potassium phosphate monobasic 117.3 mg equiv. potassium 33.7 mg
- Folic acid 150 µg
- Choline bitartrate 25 mg
- Inositol 25 mg
- Lecithin 50 mg
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Per capsule:
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae (boulardii) (SB) 10 billion CFU
- Lactobacillus plantarum (LP01) 2.5 billion CFU
- Bifidobacterium breve (BR-03) 2.5 billion CFU
- Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis (BS-01) 2.5 billion CFU
- Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis (BI-04) 2 billion CFU
- Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis (HN019) 2 billion CFU
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Per sachet (5 g) (Lemon Berry):
$34.95
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This monograph was last reviewed on 01/05/2024 10:00:00 and last updated on 13/11/2022 02:26:25. Monographs are reviewed and/or updated multiple times per month and at least once per year.
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Natural Medicines rates safety based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Likely Safe, Possibly Safe, Possibly Unsafe, Likely Unsafe, Unsafe, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate. For more information about Natural Medicines’ Safety Rating System, click here.
The Natural Medicines Effectiveness Ratings are assigned for specific indications. A product might be rated "Possibly Effective" for one condition, but be rated "Likely Ineffective" for another condition, depending on the evidence. For more info click here.
