Abstract
PurposeThe effect of brewers’ yeast (1,3)-(1,6)-beta-d-glucan consumption on the number of common cold episodes in healthy subject was investigated.MethodsIn a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized, multicentric clinical trial, 162 healthy participants with recurring infections received 900 mg of either placebo (n = 81) or an insoluble yeast (1,3)-(1,6)-beta-d-glucan preparation (n = 81) per day over a course of 16 weeks. Subjects were instructed to document each occurring common cold episode in a diary and to rate ten predefined infection symptoms during an infections period, resulting in a symptom score. The subjects were examined by the investigator during the episode visit on the 5th day of each cold episode.ResultsIn the per protocol population, supplementation with insoluble yeast (1,3)-(1,6)-beta-glucan reduced the number of symptomatic common cold infections by 25 % as compared to placebo (p = 0.041). The mean symptom score was 15 % lower in the beta-glucan as opposed to the placebo group (p = 0.125). Beta-glucan significantly reduced sleep difficulties caused by cold episode as compared to placebo (p = 0.028). Efficacy of yeast beta-glucan was rated better than the placebo both by physicians (p = 0.004) participants (p = 0.012).ConclusionThe present study demonstrated that yeast beta-glucan preparation increased the body’s potential to defend against invading pathogens.
Highlights
Cumulative evidence obtained from animal models and human studies strongly suggest the immunostimulatory effect of beta-glucans [1]
The present study demonstrated that yeast beta-glucan preparation increased the body’s potential to defend against invading pathogens
Consumption of yeast (1,3)-(1,6)-beta-glucan caused a milder progression of the severe common cold episodes
Summary
Cumulative evidence obtained from animal models and human studies strongly suggest the immunostimulatory effect of beta-glucans [1]. Beta-glucans are natural polysaccharides consisting of a backbone of (1,3)-betaglycosidic linked D-glucose subunits, with irregular beta(1,6)-linked side chains of various length. They are major structural components of the cell walls of brewers’ yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, fungi and some bacteria. There are clear differences between beta-glucans in their solubility, molecular mass, tertiary structure, degree of branching, polymer charge and solution conformation, all of which in turn impact their immune modulating effects [2, 3]. The virus comes into contact with receptors on epithelial cells of the respiratory tract which in turn triggers a cascade of innate and adaptive immune response mediated by the release of inflammatory cytokines [3]. Each cold episode experienced by working adults leads to an average of 8.7 lost work hours [4]
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