Introducing the strongest immune, "This"
Hello. I'm a pharmacist Jinny.
If you listen to the stories of people who have recently had COVID, some of them are mildly ill and almost asymptomatic, while others suffer from a high fever for several days. This is because everyone's immunity is different.
So today, for those who suffer from weakened immune systems, I would like to introduce you to beta-glucan. Beta-glucan is a dietary fiber and a type of polysaccharide, which is found in the cell walls of yeast, mushrooms, and grains. It has been called the 'strongest in immunity' and has been recognized by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for its ability to 'help improve immune function', so let's take a closer look at the benefits of taking it in this paper.
NK cells are a type of white blood cell responsible for innate immunity and are also known as natural killer cells. This is because it directly attacks and kills virus-infected cells and cancer cells, and secretes chemokines and cytokines, which are substances that trigger an immune response. When NK cells are activated, the immune response becomes more active. However, beta-glucan induces the activation of NK cells.
A 2017 study in Nutrition research and practice reported that beta-glucan supplementation resulted in significantly higher levels of NK cell activity [1].
"This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study showed that supplementation with purified bacterial linear β-1,3-glucan can significantly increase NK cell activity without significant side effects compared to placebo."
Beta-glucan not only activates NK cells, but also immune cells, macrophages and dendritic cells. Beta-glucan, which has a positive effect on improving immune function, has also been found to help alleviate the symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections that tend to occur when the immune system is compromised.
A 2009 study in the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine reported a significant reduction in upper respiratory tract infection symptoms in the group taking beta-glucan [2].
"Over the course of the four-week study, subjects in the treatment group (250 mg and 500 mg beta-glucans per day) reported significantly fewer upper respiratory tract symptoms (URTI), improved overall health, reduced confusion, fatigue, nervousness, and anger, and increased vitality according to the Mood State Profile (POMS) survey."
In the body, dietary fiber reduces blood cholesterol by blocking the reabsorption of bile acids produced by cholesterol in the liver from the intestines into the bloodstream. Beta-glucan, a dietary fiber, can also lower blood cholesterol in this way.
In this regard, a 2020 study was published in Nutrients showing that beta-glucan consumption reduced total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol [3].
"Beta-glucan reduced mean LDL cholesterol levels by 12.2% after 4 weeks of supplementation and 15.1% after 8 weeks of supplementation at baseline. Between baseline and 4 weeks, total cholesterol levels showed an average reduction of 6.5% in the beta-glucan process. On the other hand, non-HDL cholesterol plasma concentrations decreased by 11.8%. In addition, after eight weeks of beta-glucan supplementation, total cholesterol (TC) decreased by 8.9% and non-HDL cholesterol levels by 12.1%."
Today, we looked at the benefits of taking beta-glucan in a paper. Immunity doesn't seem to be as important as it is today. Therefore, it is recommended to get plenty of rest, good sleep, and sunbathe for 20 to 30 minutes a day to boost your immunity.
I hope you have a healthy day in body and mind. It was JInny.
[1] Lee, Y. J., Paik, D. J., Kwon, D. Y., Yang, H. J., & Park, Y. (2017). Agrobacterium sp.-derived β-1,3-glucan enhances natural killer cell activity in healthy adults: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study. Nutrition research and practice, 11(1), 43–50.
[2] Talbott, S., & Talbott, J. (2009). Effect of BETA 1, 3/1, 6 GLUCAN on Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms and Mood State in Marathon Athletes. Journal of sports science & medicine, 8(4), 509–515.
[3] Cicero, A., Fogacci, F., Veronesi, M., Strocchi, E., Grandi, E., Rizzoli, E., Poli, A., Marangoni, F., & Borghi, C. (2020). A randomized Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Medium-Term Effects of Oat Fibers on Human Health: The Beta-Glucan Effects on Lipid Profile, Glycemia and inTestinal Health (BELT) Study. Nutrients, 12(3), 686.
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