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Bgl8.0
Beta-Glucans Research
Likely helpsHigh safety
48 peer-reviewed studies
What the evidence says
Likely helps
Beta-Glucans appears to help in 14 of 16 studies with measurable effects — the evidence leans clearly favourable.
Most evidence is from high-quality meta-analyses and randomised trials published 2007–2026 with a typical study size of 129 participants.
Based on 48 studies · 19 meta-analyses · 13 RCTs · 17,892 total participants
Confidence
High
What the studies found
14helped2unclear· 32 more without graded effect data
By outcome
Cholesterol & lipids
Likely helps28 studies
Glucose & metabolic
Probably helps9 studies
Immune supportEnhanced immune response and fewer infections · 2-4 weeks
32 studies in the last 5 years · Latest meta-analysis: 2026
200720162026
1HbA1c reductionMeta-AnalysisCited 26×n=2,685 · very large study2023
Galactomannans were the most effective dietary fiber for reducing the levels of HbA1c, fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Juhász AE et al. · The American journal of clinical nutrition (2023)
Galactomannans had the highest effect on reducing the levels of HbA1c (SUCRA: 92.33%) and fasting blood glucose (SUCRA: 85.92%).
With regard to fasting insulin level, HOMA-IR, β-glucans (SUCRA: 73.45%), and psyllium (SUCRA: 96.67%) were the most effective interventions.
Galactomannans were ranked first in reducing the levels of triglycerides (SUCRA: 82.77%) and LDL cholesterol (SUCRA: 86.56%).
2LDL cholesterol reductionMeta-AnalysisCited 7×n=1,731 · large study2024
Conclusions: Oat-based products may reduce TC and LDL-C, but have little effect on TG, HDL-C, and major cardiovascular events in patients with dyslipidemia.
Li A et al. · Food & function (2024)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Pooled estimates showed that oat-based products may result in a large reduction in LDL-C (WMD, -0.24 mmol L-1; 95% CI: -0.33, -0.15) (moderate certainty) and TC (WMD, -0.32 mmol L-1; 95% CI: -0.48, -0.17) (moderate certainty).
Compared to other diets (mainly other cereals), oat-based products probably reduce the level of LDL-C (WMD, -0.17 mmol L-1; 95% CI: -0.25, -0.08) (moderate certainty) and TC (WMD, -0.21 mmol L-1; 95% CI: -0.30, -0.12) (moderate certainty).
Both groups showed that oat-based products had little effect on HDL-C and TG (moderate certainty).
3Total cholesterol reductionMeta-AnalysisCited 13×n=1,120 · large study2021
In conclusion, β-glucan can significantly reduce risk factors like TC and LDL-cholesterol for CVD in mildly hypercholesterolaemic individuals; furthermore, it appears that the effects of food matrices with both 'solid products' and 'liquid products' where β-glucan was incorporated into were ranked as the best way to exert its beneficial properties, while 'liquid' and 'solid' products were ranked as the second and third positions, respectively.
Xu D et al. · The British journal of nutrition (2021)
After conducting a comprehensive search in Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane Library, a total of twenty-one randomised controlled trials involving 1120 participants were identified to measure the pooled effect.
There was evidence for modest unexplained heterogeneity in the meta-analysis.
4Safety and tolerability of beta-glucan in cancer patientsSystematic ReviewCited 47×n=1,650 · large study2021
It was observed that the administration of β-glucan is safe and well-tolerated.
Steimbach L et al. · Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland) (2021)
It was observed that the administration of β-glucan is safe and well-tolerated.
Most of the trials pointed that concomitant administration of β-glucan with chemo or radiotherapy reduced the immune depression caused by such treatments and/or accelerated the recovery of white blood cells counts.
However, some articles also commented that no statistical difference was encountered between β-glucan treated vs. control groups, which gives a controversial conclusion about the β-glucan effects.
5Total cholesterol reductionMeta-AnalysisCited 33×n=927 · large study2022
This meta-analysis supports the health benefits of oat beta-glucan, especially for its cholesterol-lowering features, although it has some inevitable limitations.
Yu J et al. · Nutrients (2022)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
The results were presented with the weighted mean difference (WMD) with a 95% CI.
Overall, oat beta-glucan supplementation significantly reduced levels of TC (pooled WMD = -0.24 mmol/L; 95%CI: -0.28 to -0.20 mmol/L), LDL-c (pooled WMD = -0.27 mmol/L; 95%CI: -0.35 to -0.20 mmol/L).
Furthermore, beta-glucan consumption did not show significant effects on TG (pooled WMD = -0.04 mmol/L; 95%CI: -0.13 to 0.05 mmol/L), HDL-c (pooled WMD = 0.00 mmol/L; 95%CI: -0.05 to 0.05 mmol/L).
Higher consumption of whole oats and oat bran, but not oat or barley beta-glucan extracts, are associated with lower HbA1c, fasting glucose and fasting insulin of T2D, hyperlipidaemic and overweight subjects, especially people with T2D, which supports the need for clinical trials to evaluate the potential role of oats in approaching to the management of glycemic control and insulin sensitivity of diabetes or metabolic syndrome subjects.
He LX et al. · Food & function (2016)
The intake of oats and beta-glucan extracted from oats were effective in decreasing fasting glucose (P = 0.007, I(2) = 91%) and fasting insulin of T2D (P < 0.001, I(2) = 0%) and tented to lower HbA1c (P = 0.09, I(2) = 92%).
Compared with the control, oat intake resulted in a greater decrease in fasting glucose and insulin of subjects (P < 0.05), but beta-glucan extract intake did not.
9Fasting glucose concentrationMeta-AnalysisCited 12×n=603 · large study2015
In conclusion, there was not a significant overall effect of beta-glucan intake on improvements of fasting glucose and insulin concentrations in hypercholesterolemic subjects.
Zou Y et al. · International journal of food sciences and nutrition (2015)
No clear effect
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Summary estimates of weighted mean differences (WMD) and 95% confidence interval was 0.05 mmol/L (-0.11, 0.02) for fasting glucose concentration and 0.75 pmol/L (-1.82, 3.32) for fasting insulin concentrations.
Twelve trials with a total of 603 subjects were included in the meta-analysis.
Beta-glucan consumption did not significantly affect measures of glycemic control.
This systematic-review examined the effects of Beta-Glucans.
Noronha JC et al. · European journal of clinical nutrition (2023)
Results were expressed as ratio-of-means (RoM) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
MinDose was defined as the dose at which the upper 95% CI of the regression line cut the line of no effect (i.e., RoM = 1).
MinDoses for glucose iAUC for high-MW, medium-MW and low-MW OBG, respectively, were estimated to be 0.2 g, 2.2 g and 3.2 g per 30 g avCHO; MinDoses for glucose iPeak were less than those for iAUC.
Dietary OSIs resulted in lowered levels of blood lipids and improvements in anthropometric parameters among participants with predominantly mild metabolic disturbances, regardless of dietary background or control.
Llanaj E et al. · European journal of nutrition (2022)
The majority of included RCTs (81.1%) had some concerns for risk of bias.
Dietary OSIs resulted in lowered levels of blood lipids and improvements in anthropometric parameters among participants with predominantly mild metabolic disturbances, regardless of dietary background or control.
Further high-quality trials are warranted to establish the role of OSIs on blood pressure, glucose homeostasis and inflammation markers.
This meta-analysis examined the effects of Beta-Glucans.
Zurbau A et al. · European journal of clinical nutrition (2021)
Large benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Data were pooled using generic inverse-variance with random-effects model and expressed as ratio-of-means with [95% CIs].
OBG reduced glucose iAUC and iPeak by 23% (0.77 [0.74, 0.81]) and 28% (0.72 [0.64, 0.76]) and insulin by 22% (0.78 [0.72, 0.85]) and 24% (0.76 [0.65, 0.88]), respectively.
OBG molecular-weight >300 kg/mol significantly reduced glucose iAUC and iPeak, whereas molecular-weight <300 kg/mol did not.
14Efficacy and safety of commercial beta-glucan productsSystematic ReviewCited 10×n=33 · small study2020
Commercial beta-glucan products were studied in a number of RCTs whose results can be considered only as preliminary, as they used small number of participants and surrogate outcomes.
Markovina N et al. · Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland) (2020)
Commercial beta-glucan products were studied in a number of RCTs whose results can be considered only as preliminary, as they used small number of participants and surrogate outcomes.
The quality of many studies was poor and further research and trials on bigger population should be performed before a final conclusion can be made.
Ex vivo studies conducted in human blood cells show the radioprotective effect of β-glucan of aqueous extract of G. lucidum, nevertheless, its implementation as radioprotector to humans is in need of further clinical research studies.
González A et al. · Nutrients (2020)
From a total number of 1109 records identified, 15 full text articles were eligible, none of them were clinical trials.
In vivo studies reveal the efficiency of G. lucidum aqueous extracts of polysaccharides and triterpenes in mice exposed to γ-rays.
In plasmid, they can reduce radiation damage as an increment of the open circular form, as well as increase the DNA extension, as shown in vitro studies.
18triglycerides and HDL cholesterolSystematic ReviewCited 17×n=17 · very small study2023
Consuming oat in conjunction with calorie-reducing diets or using it with DHA can cause a significant TG reduction.
Amerizadeh A et al. · Current problems in cardiology (2023)
Consuming oat in conjunction with calorie-reducing diets or using it with DHA can cause a significant TG reduction.
It may be concluded that, in addition to lowering TC and LDL-C, a considerable improvement in TG or HDL-C can be accomplished by adjusting factors such as oat consumption dose or consumption duration or utilizing oat in conjunction with a proper diet program.
To conclude, more research on this topic is required.
The findings of this study indicates that cereal beta-glucan consumption seems to decrease body weight and BMI, but has no effect on waist circumference and energy intake.
Rahmani J et al. · Complementary therapies in medicine (2019)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Our study found a significant reduction in body weight and body mass index (BMI) following beta-glucan consumption (weighted mean difference [WMD]: -0.77 kg, 95% CI: -1.49, -0.04) and (WMD: -0.62 kg/cm2, 95% CI: -1.04, -0.21), respectively.
The findings of this study indicates that cereal beta-glucan consumption seems to decrease body weight and BMI, but has no effect on waist circumference and energy intake.