BACKGROUND: ß-glucans isolated from natural sources have demonstrated pluripotent immunomodulatory potential, making them a promising supportive treatment for the management of recurrent respiratory infections (RRIs) in children. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a pleuran-based supplement (ß-glucan isolated from Pleurotus ostreatus in combination with vitamin D and zinc) on mucosal immunity -through modulating salivary secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) levels -in children with RRIs. METHODS: This monocentric, prospective, open-label pilot study investigated the effect of an orally administered pleuran/vitamin D/zinc supplement (1-2 chewable tablets daily depending on body weight) on the dynamics of sIgA secretion measured in saliva samples collected at three timepoints: at baseline and after 4-6 and 8-10 days. RESULTS: This study included 49 children aged 6-11 years (mean age: 8.2 ± 1.6 years) with a history of one or more of the following conditions in the inclusion criteria: RRIs, allergy, and asthma. After 8-10 days with daily administration of the chewable pleuran/vitamin D/zinc supplement, children exhibited a statistically significant increase in salivary sIgA concentrations compared with baseline (227 ± 211 µg/mL; P = 0.045). No adverse events were observed during the course of the study in relation to the administration of pleuran-based supplement. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated the beneficial effects of the short-term administration of a pleuran-based chewable supplement on mucosal immunity through increasing salivatory sIgA levels. This study confirms the favourable safety profile of this pleuran/vitamin D/zinc combination, which could be beneficial for children with acute or recurrent respiratory infections, including children with allergies and/or asthma. Moreover, the significant increases in salivary sIgA concentrations that were observed after a few days of supplementation support the use of pleuran in not only the prevention but also the treatment of acute respiratory infections.

• Klíčová slova
• Allergy, Children, Mucosal immunity, Respiratory tract infections, Salivary sIgA, ß-glucan,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

For centuries human civilization has cultivated oats, and now they are consumed in various forms of food, from instant breakfasts to beverages. They are a nutrient-rich food containing linear mixed-linkage (1 → 3) (1 → 4)-β-d-glucans, which are relatively well soluble in water and responsible for various biological effects: the regulation of the blood cholesterol level, as well as being anti-inflammatory, prebiotic, antioxidant, and tumor-preventing. Numerous studies, especially in the last two decades, highlight the differences in the biological properties of the oat β-d-glucan fractions of low, medium, and high molecular weight. These fractions differ in their features due to variations in bioavailability related to the rheological properties of these polysaccharides, and their association with food matrices, purity, and mode of preparation or modification. There is strong evidence that, under different conditions, the molecular weight may determine the potency of oat-extracted β-d-glucans. In this review, we intend to give a concise overview of the properties and studies of the biological activities of oat β-d-glucan preparations depending on their molecular weight and how they represent a prospective ingredient of functional food with the potential to prevent or modulate various pathological conditions.

• Klíčová slova
• cancer, cereal β-d-glucans, glycaemia, immunity, microbiome, molecular weight, oats,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

Administration of β-glucans through various routes, including immersion, dietary inclusion, or injection, have been found to stimulate various facets of immune responses, such as resistance to infections and resistance to environmental stress. β-Glucans used as an immunomodulatory food supplement have been found beneficial in eliciting immunity in commercial aquaculture. Despite extensive research involving more than 3000 published studies, knowledge of the receptors involved in recognition of β-glucans, their downstream signaling, and overall mechanisms of action is still lacking. The aim of this review is to summarize and discuss what is currently known about of the use of β-glucans in fish.

• Klíčová slova
• feeding, fish, glucan, health, immunity, infection,
• MeSH
• beta-glukany aplikace a dávkování   metabolismus   MeSH
• dieta MeSH
• imunologické faktory farmakologie   MeSH
• přirozená imunita * MeSH
• ryby imunologie   MeSH
• vodní hospodářství MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• beta-glukany MeSH
• imunologické faktory MeSH

Hypercholesterolemia is one of primary risk factors of cardiovascular disease, together with metabolic syndrome, hypertension and diabetes. Although progress has been made, the search for novel methods of preventing and treating dyslipidemia is ongoing and current therapies for cardiovascular disease induce various side effects. β‑glucans are linear unbranched polysaccharides found in various natural sources, such as mushrooms. Due to their structure they are able to interact with innate immunity receptors, however they also act as dietary fibers in the digestive tract. As there are two forms of β‑glucans, insoluble and soluble forms, they are able to interact with lipids and biliary salts in the bowel and consequently reduce cholesterol levels. Therefore, they may be developed as a suitable therapeutic option to treat patients with dyslipidemia, as they are natural molecules that do not induce any significant side effects. The current review discusses the evidence supporting the effects of β‑glucans on cholesterol levels.

• MeSH
• anticholesteremika chemie   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• beta-glukany chemie   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• cholesterol krev   imunologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• hypercholesterolemie krev   imunologie   metabolismus   terapie   MeSH
• imunologické faktory chemie   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• potravní vláknina analýza   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• anticholesteremika MeSH
• beta-glukany MeSH
• cholesterol MeSH
• imunologické faktory MeSH
• potravní vláknina MeSH

Bone marrow damage represents a significant problem in cancer treatment. Therefore, it is clear that the pharmacologic protection against bone marrow damage is of considerable interest, since the development of novel and effective medical approaches to combat radiation or cytotoxic damage are of major importance not only to the medical field but also to several industries and the military. This review represents a summary of our knowledge of the effects of various glucans on bone marrow protection.

• Klíčová slova
• Glucan, bone marrow, chemotherapy, irradiation, mice,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

Administration of glucans through immersion, dietary inclusion or injection has been found to enhance many types of immune responses, resistance to bacterial and viral infections and to environmental stress in many fish species. Although the efficacy of the glucan varies with types and administration, glucan used as an immunomodulatory and mostly immunostimulatory additive has been found satisfactory in eliciting immunity in commercial aquaculture. Development of more efficient administration methods will facilitate the routine and prophylactic use of glucans as natural immunostimulants of fish. Using a PubMed search, this review has an extensive literature on glucan in fish immunity.

• Klíčová slova
• Aquaculture, Fish, Glucan, Immunity, Immunostimulation, Vaccination,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

BACKGROUND: The role of glucan in stimulation of immune reactions has been studied for several decades. In this report we focused on the effects of orally administered glucan in children with chronic respiratory problems. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We measured the levels of albumin, lysozyme and CRP in saliva of 40 children aged 8-12 years and evaluate the effects of 100 mg/d oral dose of glucan. RESULTS: We found a significant increase in production of changes in production of lysozyme and CRP in glucan-treated children. In addition, a strong improvement in general conditions was found. CONCLUSIONS: Short-term oral application of natural immunomodulator β-glucan stimulated mucosal immunity of children with chronic respiratory problems.

• Klíčová slova
• Glucan, children, lysozyme, mucosal immunity, saliva,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH