NSC-100 Extra Strength Beta Glucan -10mg, 60 capsules by Nutritional Supply Company. "Beta-1,3/1,6-glucan from the cell wall of Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) is the most active and potent immune normalizer."
Beta-1,3/1,6-glucan from the cell wall of Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) is the most active and potent immune normalizer. Beta Glucan nutritionally empowers the immune response to nutritionally fight back to good health when compromised, acting inappropriately (autoimmune) or hyper (allergies). "Extremely large dosages are not necessary for this incredible product that nutritionally supports well-being and a quality as well as extended life by potentiating the immune response to successfully fight back against the assault of ill-health invaders on our systems that contribute to aging."
Suggested Use: As a dietary supplement, take 1 capsule per day
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Glucose is a simple saccharide that the body transforms to energy as ATP and stores in muscles, liver and other tissues in a form of glycogen. Beta-1,3/1,6-glucan is different from energy-storing glucose containing polysaccharides because the connection between the glucose units is different. More specifically, it is the Beta-1,3/1,6-glucan linkage that makes this compound unique. A potent particulate Beta Glucan from yeast cell wall based on medical school research to date is described in scientific literature as MG Glucan. Particle Size Beta Glucans are absorbed through the intestine wall, transported by M cells to the Peyer’s Patch and then ingested by the Macrophage immune cells via Beta Glucan receptors of approximately two microns in size. Large particle or globular size Beta Glucans are inexpensive primarily because they are minimally processed and not reduced to microparticulate size of 1 to 4 microns particle size for superior immune response potentiation.
After transferal from the intestine to the lymphatic system in the Peyer’s Patch, the Beta Glucan must be ingested by immune cells known as Macrophages. T cells, NK cells and B cells are in turn potentiated in what is called the immune cascade. Beta Glucan consumption is easier with more Beta Glucan ingested faster if in microparticulate bits the size of the receptor sites, in contrast to large chunks or reaggregated clumps of glucan after exposure to water in the digestive process that hinder fast and complete ingestion.
Finally, more immune cells will ingest the smaller particles in size, increasing the saturation factor. Thus, a higher percentage of micronized Beta Glucan enters the immune system faster, which potentiates more immune cells to enable an immune response with greater numbers of activated immune cells targeted to kill and dispose of the pathogens.
Medical school research at the University of Nevada School of Medicine under the direction of Dr. Kenneth Hunter ScD, demonstrates the immune potentiation by Beta Glucan is dependent on ingestion and not just contact with the glucan receptors on these white immune cells. See Beta Glucan Scientific Research at www.betaglucan.org .
Because Beta Glucan receptor sites are approximately 1 to 3 microns in size, Beta Glucans in 1-4 micron particle sizes (micro-particulates) are ingested easier, faster and more completely by the Macrophages than larger sized glucans that do not fit the receptor site and thus must be broken down first to be ingested. Ingestion by the immune cells is then in lesser amounts with time delays caused by the inefficient and slow process of the Macrophage cells attempt to reduce the particles sizes chemically. An immune enhancer, technically a biological response modifier, should be highly ingestible by immune cells to create a rapid and needed size of immune response relative to pathogen risks. Difference in Various Beta Glucans Beta Glucans can be derived from yeast cell wall, oats and barley, mushrooms, algae, mannan and other sources, but for optimum activation of the immune response, none in my opinion compare to micronized and disaggregated Beta 1,3/1,6 glucan extracted from yeast cell wall (Baker’s yeast). In fact, current medical school research demonstrates the MG Beta Glucan is more than twice as potent in immune potentiation relative to nitric oxide stimulation to kill microbes compared to other forms since others re-aggregate into less efficient sizes for ingestion on being subjected to water in the digestive process. Note the difference is the particle size and not the chemical composition of respective Beta 1,3/1,6 glucans.
Dr. Joyce Czop from Harvard Medical School determined that Beta Glucan from yeast cell wall is up to 100 times more effective than mannan in immuno-potentiation. Glucans derived from grains minimally affect the immune response, but do help in lowering cholesterol. Toxicity or Negative Side Effects Beta-1,3/1,6-glucan derived from the yeast cell walls of Baker’s Yeast is considered safe and non-toxic, with the Baker’s Yeast from which extraction occurs holding the classification of G-R-A-S (Generally Recognized as Safe) by the FDA as a dietary food additive supplement. Beta 1,3/1,6 glucan is an isolate extract derived from Baker’s yeast, but with no change in chemical composition.
No contraindications with other pharmaceutical products are known to date, but always check with your personal health provider if you have questions in this regard. Beta glucan should not be taken for auto-immune conditions without health provider review and approval.
Free Radical Scavenger Myra Patchen, Ph.D., co-author of the military study, confirmed that Beta Glucan is also a free radical scavenger. Blood Macrophages are protected by Beta 1,3/1,6 glucan from free radical attack during and after radiation exposure. The Beta 1,3/1,6 glucan allowed these cells to continue their important functions in the irradiated body and release factors important to the restoration of normal bone marrow production. Free radical scavenging testing involving Beta 1,3/1,6 glucan in different models confirmed the antioxidant effect. The powerful free radical fighting abilities of Beta Glucan are a major benefit to better health and longer life based on the known potential of free radicals to accelerate aging, cause cancer and other diseases. Immune System Support Each of us has an unbelievably complex immune system designed to protect us against all intrusions into the body that may cause harm. Your immune system is your primary natural defense against disease and aging to be augmented when appropriate by pharmaceutical drugs available only with a prescription and subject in most instances to unwanted side effects that trigger the necessity for a prescription for purchase. Beta 1,3/1,6 glucan is a nutritional fuel for your immune system to assist in enabling a normalized immune response.
Beta Glucan nutritionally promotes normalization that includes regeneration of a suppressed immune response or a calming of a hyper immune response such as allergic reactions. Joined with proper diet, moderate exercise, adequate rest and reduced stress, the immune system can be maintained or as a goal returned to peak condition when nutritionally normalized with Beta 1/3,1/6 glucan. An immune response performing normally is a key to success for anyone seeking a healthy life.
Macrophages Macrophages are large white immune cells representing the first line of defense in the initiation and maintenance of the immune response. Like all blood cells, Macrophages originate in the bone marrow from a pluripotent stem cell. As it matures and enters the blood stream it becomes a monocyte. Monocytes enlarge in the blood before entering the tissue as mature Macrophages.
From an evolutionary point of view, the Macrophage is the oldest and most consistently preserved immunologically competent cell known. Not only humans and higher animals, but primitive invertebrates such as Hydra which have no other immunological effector cells, have Macrophages.
Macrophages with various names in different sizes exist in all tissues, organs, blood and lymph and are classified as phagocytes to devour, breakdown and dispose of foreign particles in the cell-mediated immune response. Macrophages vary in sizes: spleen-5 microns; peritoneal cavity-10 microns; and aveolar-lungs-15-21 microns. What is the peritoneal cavity? The peritoneal cavity is a membrane-bound and fluid-filled abdominal cavity of mammals, which contains the liver, spleen, most of the gastro-intestinal tract and other viscera, including macrophages, B cells and T cells. Macrophages also participate in the innate, or non-specific immune first response, that attacks and attempts to kill any substance that does not originate in the body known as “non-self.” In order to function defensively, the Macrophages must pass through a state of activation which involves certain form and structure changes. Most importantly, a sequence of metabolic changes occurs which results in the production of a series of cytokines. Cytokines act as protein internal regulators of the immune system. Activation can be initiated by a variety of different stimuli such as endotoxin, bacteria, viruses, fungi or chemicals.
How Macrophages and Cells are Activated The activated Macrophage is very potent in the immune response. A Macrophage can recognize and kill tumor cells non-specifically (innate), as well as remove foreign debris. It also can produce a number of essential cytokines that are able to stimulate the immune system in general and boost bone marrow production.
To be activated by Beta 1,3/1,6 glucan, the Macrophage must ingest the Beta Glucan through glucan receptor sites one-two microns in size and then through a unique protein expression classified as B7. Antigens are then presented to T-cells to initiate an appropriate immune response, including the B-cells and the production of appropriate antibodies. Beta Glucan is recognized by different receptors on cell membranes including macrophages, but also monocyes, dendritic cells and NK cells. The two most important receptors are Dectin-1 and CR3 which is CD11b/CD18..
After binding, there can be direct receptor activation and/or cellular pahway activation. Subsequently, glucan can impact other pars of the body’s defense apparatus, including cytokine production and antibody responses.
Radiation Burns The U.S. Armed Forces Radiobiology Institute performed oral research with Beta Glucan. In a well-controlled study, rats were given a lethal dose of radiation. Seventy percent of these rats were completely protected from the radiation effects when given a dose of yeast extracted Beta Glucan by mouth AFTER the radiation. Dr. A.J. Carrow, M.D. conducted studies with a commercial Beta Glucan product reported in the “Townsend Letter for Doctors.” In his limited study in his clinic, Dr. Carrow had positive results in women suffering from breast cancer being successfully shielded from radiation negatives compared to those who did not receive the Beta 1,3/1,6 Glucan product.
Stress-Related Immuno-Suppression Physical and emotional stress and intense physical exercise can negatively effect the immune system. Documentation in research demonstrates generally healthy athletes frequently suffer from influenza or pneumonia following heavy periods of intense exercise. The excess production of the hormone cortisol is believed to be contributory to immune suppression related to stress. The same immuno-suppression is observed in people with stress-related diseases, such as coronary disease. Under these influences, the number of Macrophages available are reduced and unable to participate in the immune cascade which causes even deeper immuno-suppression. Beta-1,3/1,6-glucan has been shown to nutritionally both potentiate and activate Macrophage cells which may assist in countering these effects.
Yeast Allergy Although Beta-1,3/1,6-glucan is extracted from Baker’s yeast, if properly extracted, it is a pure isolate containing no harmful yeast proteins that would cause an allergic reaction or aggravate any existing yeast allergic condition. The mannose-proteins that are primarily responsible for allergic reactions to yeast are on the exterior surface of yeast cells and are completely removed during the process utilized to extract, micronize and disaggregate MG Beta Glucan. The extraction process however does not alter the chemical composition of the original source.
Extracted MG Beta Glucan contains miniscule amounts of residual internal protein that creates an immune cell response to the MG Beta Glucan as being from yeast origin, but upon discovering they mimic but are no longer harmful yeast, the activated immune cells will then seek our true fungi and other pathogens in the body.
Because mannose-protein on the yeast cell wall surface is eliminated and the minimal internal proteins are void of any harmful yeast factors, MG Beta Glucan is non-allergenic, creating no allergic reactions or sensitivities when properly processed and taken orally.
