What is Beta-Glucan?

Beta-glucan is a water-soluble prebiotic dietary fibre naturally occurring between the husk and the endosperm of barley grains. Barley beta-glucan is a polysaccharide comprised of linear chains of D-glucose monomers linked by β-(1-3) and β-(1-4) bonds. Barley beta-glucan has been clinically proven to lower cholesterol levels and is also approved by the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA), the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) - amongst many other countries' food authorities.

Various types of beta-glucan can be found from oats, baker's yeast and mushrooms, however not all of them have the same health benefits. Beta-glucan extracted from barley and oats is the only one clinically proven and scientifically accepted by regulatory agencies to lower cholesterol.

How much Beta-Glucan should I consume daily?

The FDA, ESFA and SFA all recommend a daily intake of 3g (3,000mg) of beta-glucan for its benefits to be effective in lowering LDL-C cholesterol.

A mere 15g (2-3 tablespoons) of G​​​utrient Fibre will give you this daily requirement of beta-glucan. In comparison, you need 100g of oatmeal to obtain this same level of beta-glucan.  You can find capsule supplements on the market for beta-glucan but dosages are between 250mg to 500mg which is far below the recommended 3,000mg.  To ensure your body gets the full health beneftis, it is recommended one consumes it daily.

How does beta-glucan lower LDL cholesterol?

Beta-glucan acts as a highly viscous, soluble fiber that fundamentally changes how your body manages cholesterol through a process called bile acid sequestration.

1. Forming the "Gel Trap": In the small intestine, beta-glucan dissolves to form a thick, viscous gel. This gel "traps" and binds to bile acids—digestive fluids produced by the liver that are essential for fat absorption.
2. Interrupting the Cycle: Under normal conditions, bile acids are recycled back to the liver. However, the beta-glucan gel prevents this reabsorption, causing the bile acids to be naturally excreted from the body instead.
3. Forced Replenishment: To replace the lost bile acids, the liver must produce new ones. It does this by pulling LDL ("bad") cholesterol directly from your bloodstream.
4. Reducing LDL-C: As the liver continuously uses circulating cholesterol to replenish its bile supply, your overall blood cholesterol levels drop.

By effectively "mopping up" bile acids and forcing the liver to use up stored cholesterol, beta-glucan helps maintain healthy cardiovascular function and significantly reduces the long-term risk of heart disease.

How safe is beta-glucan and are there any side effects?

There are no known negative side effects in the consumption of beta-glucans. Toxicology studies have been conducted on long term consumption and on high dosage consumption and the result is beta-glucan is safe as it does not have the ability to over stimulate the immune system. However, gluten is a found in wheat, rye and barley so people who are gluten sensitive should avoid consumption of such foods. If unsure, always consult your physician for professional advice.