Members aged 50 or over took a complement for 2 weeks earlier than and 4 weeks after receiving the flu vaccine. Within the beta-glucan group, 96% had seroprotection, a measure of the immune response, in comparison with 84% within the placebo group.
“Total, the findings recommend that yeast beta-glucan supplementation could elicit a higher change in antibody titer to seasonal influenza vaccination,” wrote researchers from the College of Florida and Lallemand Bio-Components, a subsidiary of Danstar Ferment A.G., who funded the research.
Yeast-derived beta-glucans have been studied for his or her immunomodulatory actions in higher respiratory tract infections, and former analysis suggests they might scale back chilly and flu signs.
The present researchers aimed to judge the potential for yeast beta-glucans to reinforce the immune response to vaccination, with a deal with older adults who’re at a better threat of viral an infection and extreme illness.
Whereas the outcomes steered an enhancement of immunity by beta-glucans, they famous {that a} lack of enhance in IFN-γ manufacturing doesn’t help the complement’s actions at mobile stage in adults who’ve a strong response to vaccination.
Research particulars
The six-week research ran over two influenza vaccination seasons in Florida, USA. The researchers randomized 78 adults to obtain 500 mg of beta-glucan manufactured by Biotec Betaglucans in Norway or placebo each day for 2 weeks earlier than having an influenza vaccine, and 28 days afterwards.
The individuals have been aged 50 or over, planning to be vaccinated for influenza, and had a earlier COVID-19 vaccination.
Blood samples assessed antibody titer response on days 0 and 28, and cytokine response on day 28, with a further blood draw for antibody titer on day 14 of season 1.
The researchers collected info on complement use, chilly and flu signs, fever, and fatigue all through the research. Nonetheless, they encountered methodological issues and authorities steering to vaccinate early as a consequence of an anticipated extreme season, which impacted the outcomes.
The findings revealed that “supplementation with beta-glucan elicited a rise in antibody titer to vaccination in comparison with placebo,” the researchers wrote.
“Put up-vaccination, 96% of individuals within the beta-glucan group demonstrated seroprotection, in comparison with 84% within the placebo group,” they added.
They defined that extreme daytime sleepiness is related to poor antibody response to influenza vaccination, and the outcomes confirmed no variations in fatigue between the teams.
“The findings of this pilot research recommend that yeast beta-glucan could elicit a rise in antibody titer to influenza vaccination in usually wholesome older adults,” they wrote. “Nonetheless, the shortage of enhance in IFN-γ manufacturing doesn’t help the adjuvant motion of beta-glucan on the mobile stage in adults demonstrating a strong response to vaccination.”
They acknowledged the research limitations and known as for additional analysis utilizing bigger samples, to additionally discover the results of beta-glucans on antibody responses to different vaccinations, resembling COVID-19
Supply: Journal of Dietary Dietary supplements, 1–16, doi: 10.1080/19390211.2025.2539876 “Yeast Beta-Glucan Enhances Antibody Response Following Influenza Vaccination – A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Managed Pilot Trial.” Authors: M.L. Moreno et al.
