Since the end of 2019, the Covid-19 epidemic has broken out globally. By September 2021, more than 220 million people had been infected worldwide and nearly 4.5 million people had died, with the fatality rate of about 2.2%. With the development of the epidemic, comprehensive health has become a hotspot, and consumers are more concerned about their own health. The sales data of the American vitamin and supplement market in the 12 months starting December 2019 released by SPINS shows that [1], among the ten raw materials with the fastest annual sales growth rate in the American market in 2020, seven are related to immunity, and β-glucan is among the top.
What is yeast β-glucan?
Yeast β-glucan is an immune polysaccharide extracted from the cell wall of saccharomyces cerevisiae, which has been well studied and commonly used in the world. In 2009, it was approved by FDA as a GRAS (the food which is generally recognized as safe); in 2011, yeast β-glucan was approved by the European Union (EU) as a new resource food. Yeast β-glucan was approved by the Chinese health authorities as an ingredient for new food in 2010, and it was added as a nutrition enhancer in 2012, with the application scope expanding to the formula milk powder for older infants.
Yeast β-glucan and human immunity
Yeast β-glucan activates the immune system by binding to the glucan receptor of immune cells, increasing the activity of immune cells, including neutrophils, macrophages and natural killer cells, and producing immune responses including phagocytosis and secretion of cytokines. Many studies have shown that yeast β-glucan can reduce the chance of upper respiratory tract infections (URIs), especially to prevent cold and flu infections.
In a study conducted by Graubaum et al. on 100 healthy participants who frequently catch colds [2], the intake of yeast β-glucan was shown to significantly reduce typical cold symptoms.
Mechanisms of functions of yeast β-glucan [3]
In addition, a number of recent studies have also confirmed that yeast β-glucan can regulate blood lipid and blood glucose by improving intestinal flora, and can reduce Alzheimer's disease. A recent study showed [4] that both yeast β-glucan and inulin can increase the relative abundance of Bacteroides and Actinomycetes, and reduce the relative abundance of Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. At the same time, they can reduce the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroides, promote the proliferation of Bifidobacterium longum, and can significantly reduce the fasting blood glucose and blood lipid of mice on a high-fat diet. Another study found [5] that yeast β-glucan can also regulate blood lipid and blood glucose by improving intestinal flora, and can reduce Alzheimer's disease. Yeast β-glucan may improve cognitive impairment, reduce inflammation, and improve AD-like symptoms through the gut-brain axis.
Angel R&D and application
Founded in 1986, Angel Yeast Co., Ltd. specializes in the production of yeast and yeast derivatives. Angel has 30 years of yeast nutrition research history, and the production and application series technologies for Angel's Bettcan yeast β-glucan have obtained more than ten patents at home and abroad. Β-1,3/1,6-glucan derived from baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) is the most studied β-glucan, and has so far the best record in terms of immunostimulation efficacy, mode of action and safety. Therefore, it is considered superior to other sources of β-glucan.
About Angel Yeast
Founded in 1986, Angel Yeast Co., Ltd. specializes in the production of yeast and yeast derivatives. Angel's main products include baker's yeast and ingredients, Chinese dimsum & seasoning, yeast extract - savoury, human health, animal nutrition, plant nutrition, distilled spirits, biofuels, microbial nutrition and enzymes. At present, Angel Yeast has 11 international advanced production bases in China, Egypt and Russia, providing products and services to more than 150 countries and regions around the world.
Reference
[1] The sales in the American vitamin & supplement market in the period of 2019.12-2020.11 released by SPINS
[2] Kirmaz C, Bayrak P, Yilmaz O, Yuksel H. Effects of glucan treatment on the Th1/Th2 balance in patients with allergic rhinitis: a double-blind placebo controlled study. Eur Cytokine Netw. 2005 Jun;16(2):128-34.
[3] Godfrey Chi-Fung Chan. The effects of β-glucan on human immune and cancer cells. Journal of Hematology & Oncology 2009, 2:25
[4] Huali Wang, Yeast β-glucan, a potential prebiotic, showed a similar probiotic activity to inulin. Food Funct., 2020, 11, 10386–10396.
[5] Mengdai Xu, Yeast β-glucan alleviates cognitive deficit by regulating gut microbiota and metabolites in Aβ1–42-induced AD-like mice . International Journal of Biological Macromolecules.
