Beta Glucan: Supplement or Drug? From Laboratory to Clinical Trials

Abstract

Glucans are part of a group of biologically active natural molecules and are steadily gaining strong attention not only as an important food supplement, but also as an immunostimulant and potential drug. This paper represents an up-to-date review of glucans (β-1,3-glucans) and their role in various immune reactions and the treatment of cancer. With more than 80 clinical trials evaluating their biological effects, the question is not if glucans will move from food supplement to widely accepted drug, but how soon.

Defining trained immunity and its role in health and disease

“…Currently, BCG vaccination is a us Food and Drug administration-approved treatment modality for bladder cancer, and although not currently part of standard clinical care, it is also used for other treatment of malignancies such as lymphoma and melanoma. β-Glucan has long been used in east asia to boost immune responses in patients with cancer, and it is currently in clinical trials in the usa in combination with checkpoint inhibitors [180][181][182] . several alternative strategies to activate innate immunity and thereby trained immunity by injecting immunostimulatory agents into tumours are currently being developed together with checkpoint blockade, including activators of the NLrP3, stiNG, toll-like receptor and riG1 pathways.…”

Nutraceuticals have potential for boosting the type 1 interferon response to RNA viruses including influenza and coronavirus

“…With respect to practical efforts to prevent and control RNA virus infections, nutraceutical preparations intended to provide protection in this respect might reasonably also include brewer's yeast betaglucanwhich can amplify dendritic cell activation via dectin-1 and CR3 receptors; this agent has clinically documented immunostimulant effects, and has been shown to protect mice challenged with influenza virus. 33,34 (Polysaccharide cell wall preparations from certain mushrooms and sea weeds have comparable activity). Insurance of good zinc status, particularly in the very young and the elderly, would likewise seem to be prudent, as zinc supports the effective function and proliferation of various immune cells.…”

Skin Aging & Modern Age Anti-aging Strategies

“…A long-term use of glucan showed reduction of wrinkle depth, height and overall roughness, which is probably caused by stimulation of fibroblast and increase production of collagen. A cell turnover and regenerative extract of βeta-glucan is believed to support healthy immunosurveillance [158]. Dammarane ginsenosides are considered to play a major role in the antiwrinkle activities of ginseng.…”