Beta Glucan: An Effective Immune System Enhancer

Can You Benefit From Supplementing With Beta Glucan?
     Everyone can benefit from enhancement of his or her immune system to provide a longer and better quality life.  All of us are subjected to the immune suppressing action of aging, environmental contaminants, chemicals in food and water, disease and the stresses of a fast paced lifestyle.  Beta glucans are nutritional food supplements with an active ingredient proven by research to be an incredibly effective enhancing agent to the immune system.

What is Beta Glucan:
     Beta glucan, is derived from the cell walls of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a baker's yeast.  The beta glucan molecule is a polybranched, polyglucose. Beta glucan is the backbone of this molecule. Approximately 85% of the beta glucan molecule is the 1,3 glucose, 3-5% are the 1-6 glucose side chains.

Part used:  Carbohydrates that have the proteins and fats removed.  It is a complex polysaccharide molecule consisting of a chain of glucose molecules that is highly purified.

Mode of Action:  The beta glucan modulates the macrophage, which is the oldest and most consistently preserved immunologically competent cell known.  All the functions, including phagocytosis (ability to engulf foreign cells and particles ), release of certain cytokines (intercellular "fax messages") IL-1, IL-6, GM-CSF, interferon and the processing of antigens are improved.  Macrophages are involved in every day detoxifying processes, intestinal flora maintenance, anti-infective and anti-tumor protection and maintenance of overall health integrity.  Beta glucan taken orally differs from other food substances.  This type of glucan is acid resistant so it passes the stomach virtually unchanged.  Macrophages in the intestinal wall make contact with the beta glucan particles.  Activation of these cells follows and later, they are able to travel back to the local lymph nodes as part of their natural antigen-presenting function, release cytokines and induce systemic immune activation.  Single dose studies of beta glucan indicate that macrophage function may peak in 72 hours.

Dosage:  As a preventative supplement, most people claim to see great results taking two 100 mg capsules a day, as the bottle label describes.  The 500mg bottle also calls out for 2 capsules a day.  For those with serious conditions studies have shown a much larger dose may be necessary.  Consult a nutritionist or others skilled in the health field.

Results are seen in as little as two weeks or as long as two months or more.  Every person is unique and so is every immune system.  Talk to your doctor if you have any questions.