Campus Venlo, Food Claims Centre Venlo, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Maastricht University, 5911 BV Venlo, The Netherlands.
Campus Venlo, University College Venlo, Maastricht University, 5911 BV Venlo, The Netherlands.
Nutrients. 2021 Apr 17;13(4):1333. doi: 10.3390/nu13041333.
The importance of a well-functioning and balanced immune system has become more apparent in recent decades. Various elements have however not yet been uncovered as shown, for example, in the uncertainty on immune system responses to COVID-19. Fungal beta-glucans are bioactive molecules with immunomodulating properties. Insights into the effects and function of beta-glucans, which have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries, advances with the help of modern immunological and biotechnological methods. However, it is still unclear into which area beta-glucans fit best: supplements or medicine? This review has highlighted the potential application of fungal beta-glucans in nutrition and medicine, reviewing their formulation, efficacy, safety profile, and immunomodulating effects. The current status of dietary fungal glucans with respect to the European scientific requirements for health claims related to the immune system and defense against pathogens has been reviewed. Comparing the evidence base of the putative health effects of fungal beta-glucan supplements with the published guidance documents by EFSA on substantiating immune stimulation and pathogen defense by food products shows that fungal beta-glucans could play a role in supporting and maintaining health and, thus, can be seen as a good health-promoting substance from food, which could mean that this effect may also be claimed if approved. In addition to these developments related to food uses of beta-glucan-containing supplements, beta-glucans could also hold a novel position in Western medicine as the concept of trained immunity is relatively new and has not been investigated to a large extent. These innovative concepts, together with the emerging success of modern immunological and biotechnological methods, suggest that fungal glucans may play a promising role in both perspectives, and that there are possibilities for traditional medicine to provide an immunological application in both medicine and nutrition.
近年来，一个功能良好和平衡的免疫系统的重要性变得更加明显。然而，正如在对 COVID-19 的免疫系统反应的不确定性中所显示的那样，仍然有许多因素尚未被发现。真菌β-葡聚糖是具有免疫调节特性的生物活性分子。借助现代免疫学和生物技术方法，人们对β-葡聚糖的作用和功能有了更深入的了解，β-葡聚糖在中国传统医学中已经使用了几个世纪。然而，β-葡聚糖最适合哪种用途（补充剂还是药物）仍不清楚。本综述强调了真菌β-葡聚糖在营养和医学方面的潜在应用，综述了其配方、功效、安全性概况和免疫调节作用。本文还回顾了真菌葡聚糖作为膳食补充剂在营养和医学上的应用，探讨了其配方、功效、安全性概况和免疫调节作用。本文还回顾了真菌葡聚糖作为膳食补充剂在营养和医学上的应用，探讨了其在免疫和防御病原体方面的配方、功效、安全性概况和免疫调节作用。审查了真菌葡聚糖作为膳食补充剂在营养和医学上的应用，探讨了其在免疫和防御病原体方面的配方、功效、安全性概况和免疫调节作用。欧洲对与免疫系统和防御病原体相关的健康声称的科学要求审查了真菌葡聚糖在饮食中的现状。比较真菌β-葡聚糖补充剂的假定健康效应的证据基础与 EFSA 关于食品产品免疫刺激和病原体防御的公布指导文件表明，真菌β-葡聚糖可以在支持和维持健康方面发挥作用，因此可以被视为一种良好的促进健康的食品物质，如果获得批准，这种作用也可以声称。除了这些与含有β-葡聚糖的补充剂的食品用途相关的进展外，由于训练免疫的概念相对较新，并且尚未进行广泛研究，β-葡聚糖在西方医学中也可能具有新的地位。这些创新概念，加上现代免疫学和生物技术方法的新兴成功，表明真菌葡聚糖在这两个方面都可能发挥有希望的作用，并且传统医学有可能在医学和营养方面提供免疫应用。
