Immunomodulation is the most important function of beta-glucan. A large number of experiments have shown that -glucan can promote the production of IgM antibodies in the human body to improve immunity. In addition, -glucan is widely used in medicine, food and beverage, health food, cosmetics, animal feed and other industries.
"Many studies have shown that the dietary fiber contained in oats plays an important role in the regulation of blood lipids, mainly soluble -glucan." In the "No. Professor Sun Guiju from the Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Southeast University said at the 11th International Annual Conference on Food Science.
-Glucan exists in natural plants such as wheat, barley, oats, and microorganisms such as yeast, bacteria, and fungi. It is a polysaccharide polymer with high nutritional value.
Based on various evidence, both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Food Safety Authority recommend that their citizens consume 3 grams or more of soluble beta-glucan derived from oats, barley, or a combination of both per day to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. The risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease.
What is the lipid-lowering effect of oat beta-glucan? Professor Sun Guiju led a team that has done research. She said, "Our research shows that supplementing whole grain oats (80 grams/day, containing 3 grams of beta-glucan) for 45 days can significantly improve serum cholesterol in people with borderline dyslipidemia. , low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, but had no significant effect on serum triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels."
Talking about the principle, Professor Sun Guiju explained that because -glucan can absorb water and swell in the gastrointestinal tract, increasing the viscosity of the gastrointestinal tract, it can hinder the absorption of exogenous cholesterol; at the same time, as a dietary fiber, -glucan can It is fermented by intestinal flora and produces beneficial metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids, which can further inhibit the synthesis of endogenous cholesterol.
Professor Sun Guiju added that in fact, -glucans from different sources may have different physiological functions. Beta-glucans derived from fungi such as yeast can help enhance immunity; while beta-glucans derived from cereals mainly have the functions of lowering blood lipids, regulating blood sugar, and maintaining an appropriate weight. However, the specific mechanism still needs to be further studied.
