Testing the Effectiveness of Beta Glucan Products: Insights from 9 Scientific Studies

If ten different companies, each selling “the same” product, all claim to be 'The Best” then how do you know which one is telling the truth?

After working for Better Way Health for almost fifteen years, I have found that our world of beta glucan is not exempt from marketing gimmicks and misleading tricks.

Manufacturers often make bold claims about the value, purity, and effectiveness of their supplements, sometimes resorting to terms like 'Micronized' to promote products of questionable quality."

For those who want to slice through clever jargon and uncover the truth, there are a plethora of peer-reviewed studies available to the public.

On any given day, dozens of Universities and Hospitals are specifically studying beta glucan as an immunomodulator. Glucans are actually the most studied natural immunomodulator on Earth.

Scientists, PhDs, and MDs conduct these tests without favoring particular brands, variations, or companies.

Their primary objective is to conduct unbiased analysis and unveil the actual capabilities of these products, beyond mere claims.

Dr. Vaclav Vetvicka’s Findings in 2014

Addressing the issue of 'false claims,' a 2014 beta glucan comparison study, conducted by the Department of Pathology at the University of Louisville, sheds light on the immunological effects of commercially available β-glucans.

This study builds upon the 2010 research titled "β1,3-Glucan: Silver Bullet or Hot Air?“

Beta Glucan is gaining widespread recognition, with even brands like 'Cheerios®' embracing its potential.

While more individuals in the natural health community are connecting beta glucan with immune support, determining the most effective variety remains a common challenge.

The author of this study, Dr. Vetvicka, tells us that direct comparisons on individual glucans are rare. There are over 7,000 publications on the immunological effects of glucan, yet they only focus on biological activity and chemical properties. Only a scarce amount of these works answer our imminent question, “Which Beta Glucan is the Best?”

Spoiler Alert: this 2014 study shows one specific type of Beta Glucan that scored considerably higher than the others on every test administered.

In this examination, there were fifteen varieties of glucan differing in source (yeast, mushroom, oat, and barley), solubility (both soluble and insoluble), and origin (United States, Germany, Denmark, South Korea, and the Czech Republic).

While the results are entrenched in previous research showing some of these products can affect innate immunity, there are still several that yield “little or no immunological activity” (example, p5). In other words, some commercially available glucans are a waste of money, while others are worth their weight in gold.

The 6 Immune System Tests

The potency of beta glucan of beta glucan on the immune system is substantiated by unequivocal research, highlighting a multitude of advantages including, but not restricted to: strengthening anti-infectious immunity, augmenting cancer defense, alleviating stress, and even regulating cholesterol levels.

Test 1: The primary way to see how well a particular immune system product works to examine its effect on phagocytosis: the ability of your immune cells to “gobble up” foreign invaders.

If a product does not stimulate phagocytosis, it will have little effect on the body’s defense system.

Notably, 50% of the products tested by Vaclav had no “stimulative” activity, even at the highest dose.

Suggested reading: 8 Practical Ways to Improve Your Immune System and Maximize Your Health

Test 2: The second test administered was the “IL2,” or Interleukin 2, which is a type of cytokine-signaling molecule in the immune system. IL2 is the protein regulator for the activities of the white blood cells responsible for “immunity.”

It is part of the body’s natural response to microbial infection and it discriminates between foreign (“non-self”) and “self”; i.e., immunomodulation. If the product does not help to “pour” more white blood cells into your body, then it is not going to be effective on overall immune response.

Test 3: This third trial concerns antibody formation. Antibodies are specialized immune proteins; the production of antibodies by immunocytes is a major function of the immune system.

These antibodies are critical, as they help recognize and bind to foreign substances such as bacteria and viruses. Once bound by antibodies, specific immune cells are deployed to rid your body of these foreign invaders.

Inadequate antibody formation undoubtedly hinders the body's ability to combat external threats effectively.

#Test 4: Superoxide Production, which plays one of the most important roles in your immune system, is one of the most powerful compounds of immune support.

This element is essential for the destruction of bacteria. Dr. Vaclav’s results showed only mushroom and yeast derivatives capable of stimulating the production of the superoxide anion, whereas, oat-derived glucans could not. 

Opt for a supplement that enhances Superoxide production to maximize immune support.

Next steps: Worst Food Ingredients for Your Immune System

#Test 5: The fifth test conducted presents the ability to spark IFN-γ (Interferon-gamma) secretion. IFN-γ is a cytokine that functions as an antiviral and antiparasitic agent.

In addition, IFN-γ secretion is synergistic with other cytokines, such as IL-2. This cytokine induces immunomodulatory effects on a wide range of other types of cells to help activate the (NK) Natural Killer cells in your immune system.

This supplementary test genuinely unveils which glucans exert the most comprehensive impact on your immune defenses.

#Test 6: The most impressive test conducted was for tumor inhibition and the suppression of breast cancer growth. After just 2 weeks of glucan injections, there was a significant reduction in cancer growth with 5 of the products tested.

The remaining 10 products exhibited either minimal significance or demonstrated no influence on tumor growth.

Conclusion

Dr. Vetvicka summed up the purpose of the two comparative studies best when he stated:

"In our previous work, we compared 16 different glucans. From the time of publishing of the original study, the number of commercially available glucans multiplied in numerous countries.

This inspired us to compare the new batch of available glucans. In the present paper, we used some of the same reactions (phagocytosis, superoxide formation, antibody reaction, and IL-2 secretion) that have already been published.

However, the original study showed that some glucans stimulate some types of immune reactions, and are without any activity in other areas of immunity.

Therefore, for better evaluation of individual glucans, we added two more activities – IFN-γ secretion in blood and suppression of breast cancer growth. (example, p.10)"

After testing 31 different glucans between the aforementioned works, Dr. Vetvicka explains, “Several glucans showed no activity even at their highest dose.” In contrast, Better Way Health Beta Glucan topped the charts even at its lowest dosage.

With over twenty years of research, 200 peer-reviewed publications, seven books, and five international patents, Dr. Vaclav Vetvicka is one of the world’s leading researchers on beta glucan and immunology.

Dr. Vetvicka concludes.