The Beginnings
Research on polysaccharids and their effects on tumors dates back to the 1940's and continued to grow throughout the 60's, 70's and 80's in the United States, European and Japan. Use of mushrooms for medicinal purposes has long been a tradition in Japan. In Japanese studies on the anti-cancer properties of mushrooms, beta Glucan was found to be the primary cause of non-specific immunomodulation. In Japan, mushroom derived beta Glucan has been used as an immunoadjuvant therapy for cancer since 1980.
Beta Glucan research in the United States has focused on yeast-derived beta Glucan as the greatest effect on immune activation. In this2007 study, "PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF β-GLUCAN", yeast-derived beta Glucan demonstrated higher biological activity than mushroom-derived, grain-derived and combination yeast-mushroom.
Additionally, Clinical trials are underway by various entities such as the National Cancer Institute using beta Glucan as a adjuvant treatment for Breast Cancer, Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Lowering Serum Cholesterol, Diabetic Foot Ulcers and many others.
The mode of action for beta Glucan is explained by the video below:
