The Legend of Yeast Beta Glucan

Speaking of yeast beta glucan, you may not know much about it, but everyone is familiar with Ganoderma lucidum, which is known as a panacea and can bring people back to life and live forever. There is a scene of "stealing the fairy grass" in "The Legend of White Snake". In order to save Xu Xian who died of fright, the White Snake risked her life and went to Kunlun Mountain to steal the fairy grass - Ganoderma lucidum and save Xu Xian. And what is the ingredient that can have such a wonderful effect?

Speaking of the medicinal value of Ganoderma lucidum, it is inseparable from its active ingredients. Studies have shown that the wonderful effects of Ganoderma lucidum mainly come from beta-glucan. More scholars have confirmed that the molecular structure of beta-1,3/1.6 glucan has superior biological activity and stronger functionality than glucans of other structures.

Beta-glucan is widely found in various fungi and plants, such as Agaricus blazei, shiitake mushrooms, ganoderma, and oats, and is their main health-care substance. Yeast beta glucan has stronger immune-enhancing activity and can improve blood lipids, remove toxins, resist radiation, repair cells, and improve intestinal function.

Historical Course

In the 1940s, Dr. Pillemer first discovered and reported that there is a substance in the yeast cell wall that can improve immunity. Later, further research by Dr. Diluzio of the University of Tulum found that the substance in the yeast cell wall that improves immunity is a polysaccharide-beta-glucan, and this substance was isolated from baker's yeast.

It was first discovered in 1963 that it has anti-tumor activity, and later it was discovered that it has antibacterial and immunomodulatory effects. It has unique biological activities on tumors, hepatitis, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, lowering blood lipids, and anti-aging.

Yeast beta glucan was the first glucan discovered to be immunologically active.

Research institutions such as Harvard University, Tulum University, University of Washington, and the U.S. Air Force Institute of Radiobiology have purified beta-1,3-glucan from Agaricus blazei fermentation and conducted studies that have confirmed that natural yeast glucan has unique targets. It has a directional effect and can remove toxins in the body in a targeted manner, while increasing the phagocytic capacity of macrophages by more than 10 times, allowing the human immune system to quickly reach optimal balance without any toxic side effects of drugs, effectively preventing the occurrence of various chronic diseases.

On May 20, 2010, the "Ministry of Health of the People's Republic of China Announcement No. 9 of 2010" issued by the Ministry of Health identified yeast beta-glucan as a new resource product.

On November 24, 2011, the European Union issued Decision 2011/762/EU, approving the marketing of yeast beta-glucan as a new food ingredient. Approved by the US FDA as GRAS, it can be applied to a variety of foods such as dairy products, bakery products, beverages, and candies.