Neither the volume nor weight of beta glucan determines effectiveness or optimum dosage, but rather the key determinant is the degree of activation of the immune response by any given glucan in a specific amount, determined by an acceptable scientific method. In other words, more is not always better – judge by the extent to which the amount of beta glucan in a product enhances the immune response and not by the quantity of any given beta glucan in a capsule.

High milligram dosages and high percentages of beta glucan in a capsule are not determinants of immune response or ingredient purity and cell activation. The true determinants of immune response activation and effectiveness are beta glucan source, processing (including avoidance of reaggregation or agglomeration during digestion), sizing and uniformity of beta glucan particles ingested.

Several prior beta glucan studies used larger volumes of beta glucan than found in current effective oral beta glucan nutritional supplements, but these were not experiments designed to determine optimum dosage relative to the immune potentiation capabilities of a specific glucan and most were performed in the 1970’s and 1980’s.

Current science has demonstrated 10 mg or less of a properly processed and high quality Beta- 1,3/1,6-glucan or Beta-1,3-(D)-glucan with Beta- 1,6-glucan linkage extracted and isolated from yeast cell wall is an effective dosage amount (see “Dosage”) with dosages above 100 mg of a quality processed glucan potentially diminishing in immunopotentiality with increased amounts.

Lower quality, or glucans that reaggregate in the digestive process to non-uniform globular size, usually are sold in high milligram amounts that, without adequate immunopotentiation capability proven by independent laboratory testing, are minimally effective.  While generally inexpensive, these high milligram content capsules are inexpensive due to limited processing to minimize detriments to beta glucan immunopotentiation and minimal if any efforts to reduce particle size to uniform micro-nano particulate sizes of 1-4 microns (micrometers) equal to 1,000-4,000 nanometers.  As a note, macrophage immune cells are generally 8-21 microns (micrometers) in diameter.

Bigger and heavier are not necessarily positive characteristics of Beta glucans and can indicate lower grade Beta glucans only minimally effective in immune response activation.  Lower grade Beta glucans must be provided in higher milligram amounts to be measurably effective in immune response activation.

Current marketing often hypes high milligram content or percentage of a capsule containing any grade or quality Beta glucan, but sound science judges and measures safety and immune potentiation by the positive immune reaction created by the amount of Beta glucan actually contained; i.e. a small amount of high grade Beta glucan initiating a potent immune response in a capsule is many times as effective in immune potentiation as a high volume of inferior Beta glucan, irregardless of weight or size, with minimal if any immune potentiation capabilities.

Additionally, current research has conclusively demonstrated particulate beta glucan from yeast cell wall even when micronized to 1-4 microns, or 1,000-4,000 nanometers prior to oral ingestion, reaggregates or clumps back together when subjected to water in the digestive process, yielding an aggregated group that collectively creates a  larger size glucan effective particle size for internalization by the immune cells, similar to grapes in a bunch.  [See “beta glucan phagocytosis” and “microparticulate” categories for research]

Ingestion is optimized by beta 1,3/1,6 glucans that are specially processed to prevent reaggregation that in turn yields enhanced internalization and nutritional potentiation of the targeted immune cells, normally the macrophage immune cells.  The immune response with non-reaggregated glucan particles ingested by macrophage or dendritic cells responds faster and in greater numbers to attack non-self in the form of pathogens and preferably in microparticulate form.

In immunotherapy research, MG Beta 1,3/1,6 glucan is recognized as a cell-based activation agent and works by amplifying the immune response of Immune effector cells such as macrophages, dendritic cells, natural killer cells and cytotoxic T-cells. Immune effector cells work together to defend the body against cancer by targeting abnormal antigens expressed on the surface of tumor cells and to recognize, respond, kill and remove other pathogens .

A certificate of analysis for a specific beta glucan or beta glucan product should be from a recognized independent GMP laboratory and not the manufacturer or distributor (conflict of interest), with clear delineation of specific tests and/or specifications for each category accepted and approved as industry standards.

Is the product a private branded product provided the reseller by another manufacturer, or is the product from the original manufacturer? Is the entity selling the product actively involved in any medical school research related to the product in the bottle? “No” to the first question and “yes” to the second indicate a preferable beta glucan product from a primary source involved in scientific studies to study and improve glucans. Acquiring intellectual property can be beneficial, but actively creating science in on-going programs to produce intellectual property and glucan improvements with new understanding is far preferable in product manufacturer activities.

Be on alert if tests, graphs and results do not include immune potentiation capabilities, particle size and ability to negate reaggregation in the digestive process, but rather disclose or compare only glucan volume in milligrams in the product and capsule ingredients.  Product dollar cost per milligram of glucan also has nothing to do with immune potentiation capabilities of a specific product or glucan and may represent only an inexpensive, poorly manufactured or processed glucan, compared to a justifiably more expensive premium beta glucan product processed to higher standards. While everyone seeks a bargain, health is not an area to seek a minimal price at the cost of quality and effectiveness.

Be sure labeling is also in compliance with FTC and other government regulations, which are specific in format and content. Dietary supplement and food labeling requirements differ, although some manufacturers seem to confuse the two by placing, as an example, fat, caloric and carbohydrate information unnecessarily on supplements.  There is no detriment to inclusion of such information; however, same is not required nor is associated with labeling of major supplement manufacturers.