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1.
Beneficial effects of novel aureobasidium pullulans strains produced beta-1,3-1,6 glucans on interleukin-6 and D-dimer levels in COVID-19 patients; results of a randomized multiple-arm pilot clinical study.
Raghavan, K, Dedeepiya, VD, Suryaprakash, V, Rao, KS, Ikewaki, N, Sonoda, T, Levy, GA, Iwasaki, M, Senthilkumar, R, Preethy, S, et al
Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie. 2022;:112243
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In this pilot clinical study, we report the beneficial effects of beta glucans derived from two strains AFO-202 and N-163 of a black yeast Aureobasidium pullulans on the biomarkers for cytokine storm and coagulopathy in COVID-19 patients. METHODS A total of 24 RT-PCR positive COVID-19 patients were recruited and randomly divided into three groups (Gr): Gr. 1 control (n = 8) - Standard treatment; Gr. 2: Standard treatment + AFO-202 beta glucan (n = 8); and Gr. 3, Standard treatment + combination of AFO-202 and N-163 beta glucans (n = 8) for 30 days. RESULTS There was no mortality or requirement of ventilation of the subjects in any of the groups. There was a decrease in D-Dimer values (751 ng/ml to 143.89 ng/ml) and IL-6 values (7.395-3.16 pg/ml) in Gr. 1 in 15 days but the levels increased to abnormal levels on day 30 (D-Dimer: 202.5 ng/ml; IL-6 55.37 pg/ml); which steadily decreased up to day 30 in groups 2 (D-dimer: 560.99 ng/dl to 79.615; IL-6: 26.18-3.41 pg/ml) and 3 (D-dimer: 1614 ng/dl to 164.25 ng/dl; IL-6: 6.25-0.5 pg/ml). The same trend was observed with ESR. LCR and LeCR increased while NLR decreased significantly in Gr. 3. CD4 + and CD8 + T cell count showed relatively higher increase in Gr.3. There was no difference in CRP within the groups. CONCLUSION As these beta glucans are well known food supplements with a track record for safety, larger multi-centric clinical studies are recommended to validate their use as an adjunct in the management of COVID-19 and the ensuing long COVID-19 syndrome.
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2.
Clinical Outcomes after Oat Beta-Glucans Dietary Treatment in Gastritis Patients.
Gudej, S, Filip, R, Harasym, J, Wilczak, J, Dziendzikowska, K, Oczkowski, M, Jałosińska, M, Juszczak, M, Lange, E, Gromadzka-Ostrowska, J
Nutrients. 2021;(8)
Abstract
The prevalence of gastritis in humans is constantly growing and a prediction of an increase in this health problem is observed in many countries. For this reason, effective dietary therapies are sought that can alleviate the course of this disease. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of chemically pure oat beta-glucan preparations with different molar masses, low or high, used for 30 days in patients with histologically diagnosed chronic gastritis. The study enrolled 48 people of both genders of different ages recruited from 129 patients with a gastritis diagnosis. Before and after the therapy, hematological, biochemical, immunological and redox balance parameters were determined in the blood and the number of lactic acid bacteria and SCFA concentrations in the feces. Our results demonstrated a beneficial effect of oat beta-glucans with high molar mass in chronic gastritis in humans, resulting in reduced mucosal damage and healthy changes in SCFA fecal concentration and peripheral blood serum glutathione metabolism and antioxidant defense parameters. This fraction of a highly purified oat beta-glucan is safe for humans. Its action is effective after 30 days of use, which sheds new light on the nutritional treatment of chronic gastritis.
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3.
A randomized Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Medium-Term Effects of Oat Fibers on Human Health: The Beta-Glucan Effects on Lipid Profile, Glycemia and inTestinal Health (BELT) Study.
Cicero, AFG, Fogacci, F, Veronesi, M, Strocchi, E, Grandi, E, Rizzoli, E, Poli, A, Marangoni, F, Borghi, C
Nutrients. 2020;(3)
Abstract
The Beta-glucan Effects on Lipid profile, glycemia and inTestinal health (BELT) Study investigated the effect of 3 g/day oat beta-glucans on plasma lipids, fasting glucose and self-perceived intestinal well-being. The Study was an 8-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over randomized clinical trial, enrolling a sample of 83 Italian free-living subjects, adherent to Mediterranean diet, with a moderate hypercholesterolemia and a low cardiovascular risk profile. Beta-glucans reduced mean LDL-Cholesterol (LDL-C) levels from baseline by 12.2% (95%CI: -15.4 to -3.8) after 4 weeks of supplementation and by 15.1% (95%CI: -17.8 to -5.9) after 8 weeks of supplementation (p < 0.01 for both comparison and versus placebo). Between baseline and 4 weeks Total Cholesterol (TC) levels showed an average reduction of 6.5% (95%CI: -10.9 to -1.9) in the beta-glucan sequence; while non-HDL-C plasma concentrations decreased by 11.8% (95%CI: -14.6 to -4.5). Moreover, after 8 weeks of beta-glucan supplementation TC was reduced by 8.9% (95%CI: -12.6 to -2.3) and non-HDL-C levels by 12.1% (95%CI: -15.6 to -5.3). Decreses in TC and non HDL-C were significant also versus placebo (respectively p < 0.05 and p < 0.01 to both follow-up visits). Fasting plasma glucose and self-perceived intestinal well-being were not affected by both beta-glucan and placebo supplementation.
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4.
Effect of Varying Molecular Weight of Oat β-Glucan Taken just before Eating on Postprandial Glycemic Response in Healthy Humans.
Wolever, TMS, Mattila, O, Rosa-Sibakov, N, Tosh, SM, Jenkins, AL, Ezatagha, A, Duss, R, Steinert, RE
Nutrients. 2020;(8)
Abstract
To see if the molecular weight (MW) and viscosity of oat β-glucan (OBG) when taken before eating determine its effect on postprandial glycemic responses (PPRG), healthy overnight-fasted subjects (n = 16) were studied on eight separate occasions. Subjects consumed 200 mL water alone (Control) or with 4 g OBG varying in MW and viscosity followed, 2-3 min later, by 113 g white-bread. Blood was taken fasting and at 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 min after starting to eat. None of the OBG treatments differed significantly from the Control for the a-priori primary endpoint of glucose peak-rise or secondary endpoint of incremental area-under-the-curve (iAUC) over 0-120 min. However, significant differences from the Control were seen for glucose iAUC over 0-45 min and time to peak (TTP) glucose. Lower log(MW) and log(viscosity) were associated with higher iAUC 0-45 (p < 0.001) and shorter TTP (p < 0.001). We conclude that when 4 g OBG is taken as a preload, reducing MW does not affect glucose peak rise or iAUC0-120, but rather accelerates the rise in blood glucose and reduces the time it takes glucose to reach the peak. However, this is based on post-hoc calculation of iAUC0-45 and TTP and needs to be confirmed in a subsequent study.
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5.
Effects of Dietary Fibres on Acute Indomethacin-Induced Intestinal Hyperpermeability in the Elderly: A Randomised Placebo Controlled Parallel Clinical Trial.
Ganda Mall, JP, Fart, F, Sabet, JA, Lindqvist, CM, Nestestog, R, Hegge, FT, Keita, ÅV, Brummer, RJ, Schoultz, I
Nutrients. 2020;(7)
Abstract
The effect of dietary fibres on intestinal barrier function has not been well studied, especially in the elderly. We aimed to investigate the potential of the dietary fibres oat β-glucan and wheat arabinoxylan to strengthen the intestinal barrier function and counteract acute non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug (indomethacin)-induced hyperpermeability in the elderly. A general population of elderly subjects (≥65 years, n = 49) was randomised to a daily supplementation (12g/day) of oat β-glucan, arabinoxylan or placebo (maltodextrin) for six weeks. The primary outcome was change in acute indomethacin-induced intestinal permeability from baseline, assessed by an in vivo multi-sugar permeability test. Secondary outcomes were changes from baseline in: gut microbiota composition, systemic inflammatory status and self-reported health. Despite a majority of the study population (85%) showing a habitual fibre intake below the recommendation, no significant effects on acute indomethacin-induced intestinal hyperpermeability in vivo or gut microbiota composition were observed after six weeks intervention with either dietary fibre, compared to placebo.
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6.
Beta-glucan, inositol and digestive enzymes improve quality of life of patients with inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome.
Spagnuolo, R, Cosco, C, Mancina, RM, Ruggiero, G, Garieri, P, Cosco, V, Doldo, P
European review for medical and pharmacological sciences. 2017;(2 Suppl):102-107
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy of a mixture of beta-glucan, inositol and digestive enzymes in improving gastrointestinal symptoms in patients affected by inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). PATIENTS AND METHODS The study was conducted at the IBD Unit of the University of Catanzaro. Forty-three IBD patients with IBS symptoms were included in the study. IBD diagnosis was performed by clinical, endoscopic, histological and radiological criteria. Patients were in clinical remission and in treatment only with systemical and topical mesalamine. All study participants fulfilled the Rome III criteria for the diagnosis of IBS. The study participants were randomized into 2 groups: group A (n=23) received conventional treatment (systemical and topical mesalamine) plus a mixture of beta-glucan, inositol and digestive enzymes (one tablet after lunch and dinner) for four consecutive weeks; group B (n=20) received only conventional treatment. The prevalence and intensity of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms were evaluated both at the enrollment (T0) and after four weeks of treatment (T1). RESULTS Patients who received mesalamine plus the mixture of beta-glucan, inositol and digestive enzymes (group A) reported a reduction in abdominal pain together with reduction in bloating and flatulence after four weeks of treatment. Importantly, an overall improvement in the general well-being has been recorded. Patients who underwent only mesalamine treatment (group B) reported a mild reduction in the evacuative urgency without any other improvements. CONCLUSIONS We have shown that supplementation with a mixture of beta-glucan, inositol and digestive enzymes reduces bloating, flatulence and abdominal pain, improving the overall clinical condition of IBD-IBS patients.
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7.
Influence of exposure to coarse, fine and ultrafine urban particulate matter and their biological constituents on neural biomarkers in a randomized controlled crossover study.
Liu, L, Urch, B, Szyszkowicz, M, Speck, M, Leingartner, K, Shutt, R, Pelletier, G, Gold, DR, Scott, JA, Brook, JR, et al
Environment international. 2017;:89-95
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epidemiological studies have reported associations between air pollution and neuro-psychological conditions. Biological mechanisms behind these findings are still not clear. OBJECTIVES We examined changes in blood and urinary neural biomarkers following exposure to concentrated ambient coarse, fine and ultrafine particles. METHODS Fifty healthy non-smoking volunteers, mean age 28years, were exposed to coarse (2.5-10μm, mean 213μg/m3) and fine (0.15-2.5μm, mean 238μg/m3) concentrated ambient particles (CAPs), and filtered ambient and/or medical air. Twenty-five participants were exposed to ultrafine CAP (mean size 59.6nm, range 47.0-69.8nm), mean (136μg/m3) and filtered medical air. Exposures lasted 130min, separated by ≥2weeks, and the biological constituents endotoxin and β-1,3-d-glucan of each particle size fraction were measured. Blood and urine samples were collected pre-exposure, and 1-hour and 21-hour post-exposure to determine neural biomarker levels. Mixed-model regressions assessed associations between exposures and changes in biomarker levels. RESULTS Results were expressed as percent change from daily pre-exposure biomarker levels. Exposure to coarse CAP was significantly associated with increased urinary levels of the stress-related biomarkers vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) and cortisol when compared with exposure to filtered medical air [20% (95% confidence interval: 1.0%, 38%) and 64% (0.2%, 127%), respectively] 21hours post-exposure. However exposure to coarse CAP was significantly associated with decreases in blood cortisol [-26.0% (-42.4%, -9.6%) and -22.4% (-43.7%, -1.1%) at 1h and 21h post-exposure, respectively]. Biological molecules present in coarse CAP were significantly associated with blood biomarkers indicative of blood brain barrier integrity. Endotoxin content was significantly associated with increased blood ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 [UCHL1, 11% (5.3%, 16%) per ln(ng/m3+1)] 1-hour post-exposure, while β-1,3-d-glucan was significantly associated with increased blood S100B [6.3% (3.2%, 9.4%) per ln(ng/m3+1)], as well as UCHL1 [3.1% (0.4%, 5.9%) per ln(ng/m3+1)], one-hour post-exposure. Fine CAP was marginally associated with increased blood UCHL1 when compared with exposure to filtered medical air [17.7% (-1.7%, 37.2%), p=0.07] 21hours post-exposure. Ultrafine CAP was not significantly associated with changes in any blood and urinary neural biomarkers examined. CONCLUSION Ambient coarse particulate matter and its biological constituents may influence neural biomarker levels that reflect perturbations of blood-brain barrier integrity and systemic stress response.
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8.
Effect of Oral Pre-Meal Administration of Betaglucans on Glycaemic Control and Variability in Subjects with Type 1 Diabetes.
Frid, A, Tura, A, Pacini, G, Ridderstråle, M
Nutrients. 2017;(9)
Abstract
We conducted a double-blind placebo-controlled crossover pilot study to investigate the effect of oat betaglucans (β-glucan) on glycaemic control and variability in adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D; n = 14). Stomacol® tablets (1.53 g of β-glucan) or placebo (Plac) were administered three times daily before meals for two weeks. Glucose levels were monitored during the second week by continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). There was an increase in basic measures of glycaemic control (maximal glucose value 341 ± 15 vs. 378 ± 13 mg/dL for Plac and β-glucan, p = 0.004), and average daily risk range (62 ± 5 vs. 79 ± 4 mg/dL for Plac and β-glucan, p = 0.003) favouring Plac over β-glucan, but no increase in the M-value (the weighted average of the glucose values) or other more complex measures. Basic measures of glucose variability were also slightly increased during β-glucan treatment, with no difference in more complex measures. However, glycaemic variability increased between the first and last two CGM days on Plac, but remained unchanged on β-glucan. In conclusion, in this pilot study we were unable to demonstrate a general positive effect of β-glucan before meals on glucose control or variability in T1D.
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9.
Effect of Immune-Enhancing Enteral Nutrition Enriched with or without Beta-Glucan on Immunomodulation in Critically Ill Patients.
Lee, JG, Kim, YS, Lee, YJ, Ahn, HY, Kim, M, Kim, M, Cho, MJ, Cho, Y, Lee, JH
Nutrients. 2016;(6)
Abstract
We investigated whether high-protein enteral nutrition with immune-modulating nutrients (IMHP) enriched with β-glucan stimulates immune function in critically ill patients. In a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study, 30 patients consumed one of three types of enteral nutrition: a control or IMHP with and without β-glucan. The IMHP with β-glucan group showed increases in natural killer (NK) cell activities relative to the baseline, and greater increases were observed in NK cell activities relative to the control group after adjusting for age and gender. The IMHP groups with and without β-glucan had greater increases in serum prealbumin and decreases in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) than the control group. The control group had a greater decrease in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) interleukin (IL)-12 production than the IMHP with and without β-glucan groups. In all patients, the change (Δ) in hs-CRP was correlated with Δ prealbumin and Δ PBMC IL-12, which were correlated with ΔNK cell activity and Δ prealbumin. This study showed beneficial effects of a combination treatment of β-glucan and IMHP on NK cell activity. Additionally, strong correlations among changes in NK cell activity, PBMC IL-12, and hs-CRP suggested that β-glucan could be an attractive candidate for stimulating protective immunity without enhanced inflammation (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02569203).
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10.
Effect of Consuming Oat Bran Mixed in Water before a Meal on Glycemic Responses in Healthy Humans-A Pilot Study.
Steinert, RE, Raederstorff, D, Wolever, TM
Nutrients. 2016;(9)
Abstract
BACKGROUND Viscous dietary fibers including oat β-glucan are one of the most effective classes of functional food ingredients for reducing postprandial blood glucose. The mechanism of action is thought to be via an increase in viscosity of the stomach contents that delays gastric emptying and reduces mixing of food with digestive enzymes, which, in turn, retards glucose absorption. Previous studies suggest that taking viscous fibers separate from a meal may not be effective in reducing postprandial glycemia. METHODS We aimed to re-assess the effect of consuming a preload of a commercially available oat-bran (4.5, 13.6 or 27.3 g) containing 22% of high molecular weight oat β-glucan (O22 (OatWell(®)22)) mixed in water before a test-meal of white bread on glycemic responses in 10 healthy humans. RESULTS We found a significant effect of dose on blood glucose area under the curve (AUC) (p = 0.006) with AUC after 27.3 g of O22 being significantly lower than white bread only. Linear regression analysis showed that each gram of oat β-glucan reduced glucose AUC by 4.35% ± 1.20% (r = 0.507, p = 0.0008, n = 40) and peak rise by 6.57% ± 1.49% (r = 0.582, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION These data suggest the use of oat bran as nutritional preload strategy in the management of postprandial glycemia.