Impact of wheat on the non-specific immune response of man. I. Wheat bran extract

Abstract

Polysaccharide-rich extracts from different cereals show immunomodulating effects in animal models. So far, no data are available about the effects of these polysaccharides after oral intake on the immune response of healthy man. A polysaccharide-rich extract was isolated from wheat bran. Human PMNL were incubated with this extract and the phagocytic capacity was determined. The results demonstrated a dose-dependent stimulation of the phagocytic capacity. The highest stimulation was achieved at 10 −2 mg/ml of extract with 16.4% (p<0.01). In a double-blind, controlled cross over trial the immunomodulating efficacy of wheat bran extract, as part of the daily diet compared with a control diet, was measured. The effects were not statistically significant on the following immune parameters: phagocytic capacity of PMNL, specific activity of NK cells and lysozyme concentration in serum. It is not known if the polysaccharides pass the intestinal barrier; modest effects of these polysaccharides on the immune response may be concealed by stronger endogenous and exogenous factors of the immune response.