Definition

A dietary supplement composed of yeast-derived beta-glucan, with potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities. Upon administration of yeast-derived beta-glucan supplement, beta-glucan may decrease both superoxide dismutase and reductase activities and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, thereby reducing oxidative stress and inflammation. Beta-glucan may also stimulate the immune system by binding to a lectin site within the complement receptor 3 (CR3 or iC3b receptor) on leukocytes, priming the receptor to trigger cytotoxic degranulation of leukocytes when leukocyte CR3 binds to iC3b-opsonized cells. iC3b is the proteolyticly inactive product of the complement cleavage fragment C3b.