BETA GLUCAN BASED PRODUCTS MARKET ANALYSIS

Beta Glucan Based Products MarketSize and Trends

The global beta glucan based products market size was valued at US$ 455.4 Mn in 2017 and is expected to witness a CAGR of 7.2% during the forecast period (2018 – 2026).

Changing consumer preferences towards the use of nutritious food supplements over synthetic ingredients is expected to drive the market growth during the forecast period Beta glucan is gaining interest among the population due to its multiple functional and bioactive properties. Beta glucan shows beneficial role in reducing insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and obesity. A study published in the Today’s Dietitian Journal: May 2014 stated that overweight men who consumed 7 g/day of beta-glucan for 12 weeks experienced a significant reduction in body mass, waist circumference, and visceral fat compared to those in the placebo group. 

Subsequently, the application of β-glucan as a food ingredient is being widely considered with dual purposes of increasing the fiber content of food products and enhancing their health properties. As prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is increasing, identifying functional foods that reduce CVD risk factors (including high blood cholesterol) is an important area of research. Thus, oat β-glucan, a soluble dietary fiber found in the endosperm cell walls of oats,  has gained considerable interest due to its cholesterol-lowering properties.

In December 2010, the Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies panel of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) approved a health claim linking consumption of 3g of oat beta glucans per day with improved cholesterol levels.

Beta glucans are used in medical field to treat various diseases such as hyper cholesterolemia, diabetes, cancer, and HIV/AIDS. Beta glucans act as modulator for immune system. Moreover, it is used in the treatment of various cancers such as pulmonary malignancy, prostate cancer, and breast cancer. Beta glucans are also used for treatment of various types of diseases that are correlated with immune system infections.

• Beta glucan act as anti-cancer agent, owing to the reduction of reactive oxygen species, which protects DNA from damage, whereas secondary reason is that it inhibits growth and further transformation of cancer cells
• Oat beta glucan is a viscous, soluble fiber that can help maintain normal blood cholesterol and blood glucose levels as well as support gastrointestinal health
• Beta glucans are also used to prevent infections after surgery, using PGG-glucans, a specific blend of beta-glucans. It intravenously (by IV) reduces the risk of infection after surgery. Beta-glucans also reduces the risk of a serious infection called sepsis in trauma patients.

According to the Frontiers in Immunology Journal: April 2018, β-glucans has potent hematopoietic activity, which enhances the production of hematopoietic factors, bone marrow recovery as well as stem cell homing and engraftment.   

Increasing application of beta glucans in various infectious disease treatments is further expected to aid in the market growth  

Various clinical and research studies support the application of beta glucan as a biological response modifier for the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. However, the size and biochemical composition of β-glucans isolated from different sources affect their immunomodulatory properties.