β-glucans exert receptor-mediated immunomodulating activities, including oxidative burst activity and cytokine secretion. The role of the β-glucan receptors dectin-1 and complement receptor 3 (CR3) in the response of immune cells towards β-glucans is still unresolved. Dectin-1 is considered as the main β-glucan receptor in mice, while recent studies in man show that CR3 is more important in β-g...

The soluble fibre (1 ! 3)(1 ! 4)-b-D-glucan attenuates postprandial glycaemic responses when administered in solution. This attenuating effect is strengthened when solution viscosity is increased by increasing the b-glucan dose or molecular weight (MW). The effect of varying solution viscosity by changing solution volume, without changing the b-glucan dose or MW, on glycaemic responses was dete...

The soluble fibre (1 → 3)(1 → 4)-β-D-glucan attenuates postprandial glycaemic responses when administered in solution. This attenuating effect is strengthened when solution viscosity is increased by increasing the β-glucan dose or molecular weight (MW). The effect of varying solution viscosity by changing solution volume, without changing the β-glucan dose or MW, on glycaemic responses was dete...

Several regulatory bodies have approved a health claim on the cholesterol-lowering effects of oat b-glucan at levels of 3·0 g/d. The present study aimed to test whether 1·5 g/d b-glucan provided as ready-to-eat oat flakes was as effective in lowering cholesterol as 3·0 g/d from oats porridge. A 6-week randomised controlled trial was conducted in eighty-seven mildly hypercholesterolaemic ($5 mmo...

Combined beta-glucan with anti-tumor mAb therapy has demonstrated therapeutic efficacy in murine tumor models. The current study was designed to compare the therapeutic efficacy of various sources of beta-glucans. Our studies demonstrated that yeast beta-glucan, in combination with anti-tumor mAb, resulted in significantly smaller tumor burdens and achieved enhanced long-term survival compared ...

Glucans are immunomodulatory carbohydrates found in the cell walls of fungi and certain bacteria. We examined the pharmacokinetics of three water-soluble glucans (glucan phosphate, laminarin, and scleroglucan) after oral administration of 1 mg/kg doses in rats. Maximum plasma concentrations for glucan phosphate occurred at 4 h. In contrast, laminarin and scleroglucan showed two plasma peaks bet...

We conducted studies with mice, rats, and monkeys which demonstrated the ability of glucan to induce either nonspecific or specific enhancement of host resistance to infectious diseases. Intravenous pretreatment of mice with glucan significantly enhanced the survival of mice challenged with either Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis (VEE) virus or Rift Valley fever virus. Pretreatment was benef...

The soluble fiber (1→3),(1→4)-β-D-glucan has been identified as an active component of oat (Avena sativa L.) that lowers serum cholesterol, reduces the risk of heart disease and colon cancer, and alleviates the symptoms of diabetes. Those beneficial effects may be caused by the ability of β-glucan to generate viscosity in the digestive system. The objective of this study was to estimate the gen...

The ability of legumes to recognize and respond to beta-glucan elicitors by synthesizing phytoalexins is consistent with the existence of a membrane-bound beta-glucan-binding site. Related proteins of approximately 75 kDa and the corresponding mRNAs were detected in various species of legumes which respond to beta-glucans. The cDNAs for the beta-glucan-binding proteins of bean and soybean were ...

RATIONALE To prevent or combat infection, increasing the effectiveness of the immune response is highly desirable, especially in case of compromised immune system function. However, immunostimulatory therapies are scarce, expensive, and often have unwanted side-effects. β-glucans have been shown to exert immunostimulatory effects in vitro and in vivo in experimental animal models. Oral β-glucan...