Recent study finds that PureMune beta-glucan supplementation may reduce the risk of upper respiratory tract infection

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A recent pilot study¹ found that supplementation with a branded beta-glucan, called PureMune from Immudyne Nutritional (Jacksonville, FL), helped reduce the risk of upper respiratory tract infection. In the study, 12 healthy subjects receive 30 mg of beta-glucan daily for 90 days during flu season. Subjects were examined at baseline, 30 days, 60 days, and 90 days.

Results showed that supplementation with the beta-glucan reduced the number of symptomatic upper respiratory infections by 44%, compared the same time period the previous year. For those that did get sick, supplementation reduced the duration of upper respiratory tract infections by 50%, compared to the previous year. Researchers also found that serum levels of IFN-γ, IL-2 and IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio increased significantly compared to baseline. Serum levels of IFN-γ were significantly higher at day 30, day 60 and day 90 while IL-2 levels were significantly higher at day 30 and day 60. The ratio of IFN-γ/IL-4 saw was significantly higher at day 30, day 60, and day 90.

Overall, the researchers concluded that the beta-glucan supplement consistently stimulated immune cells throughout the study which suggests that daily intake augments acquired immunity.

Reference

1. Bagatela, B.S.; Liu, B.Y.; Zhong, D.; Ni, J.; Zhang, L.; Li, H.; Rohmann, S.; Lopes, A.P. Effect of Beta-Glucan on the Improvement of Immunity in Healthy Individuals during the Flu Season: A Pilot, Prospective and Open-label Clinical Trial. HealthMED, 2023, 17 (1)