Journal
NUTRITION REVIEWS
Volume 70, Issue 8, Pages 444-458Publisher
OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC
DOI: 10.1111/j.1753-4887.2012.00494.x
Keywords
appetite control; dietary ss-glucan; hypertension; metabolic syndrome; prebiotic
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Funding
- Druvan Research Foundation
- ESPEN
- Nordic Centre of Excellence SYSDIET
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The present review examines the evidence regarding the effect of beta-glucan on variables linked to the metabolic syndrome (MetS), including appetite control, glucose control, hypertension, and gut microbiota composition. Appetite control can indirectly influence MetS by inducing a decreased energy intake, and promising results for a beta-glucan intake to decrease appetite have been found using gut hormone responses and subjective appetite indicators. Beta-glucan also improves the glycemic index of meals and beneficially influences glucose metabolism in patients with type 2 diabetes or MetS, as well as in healthy subjects. Furthermore, a blood-pressure-lowering effect of beta-glucan in hypertensive subjects seems fairly well substantiated. The gut microbiota composition might be an interesting target to prevent MetS, and preliminary results indicate the prebiotic potential of beta-glucan. The evidence that beta-glucan influences appetite control and gut microbiota in a positive way is still insufficient or difficult to interpret, and additional studies are needed in this field. Still, much evidence indicates that increased beta-glucan intake could prevent MetS. Such evidence should encourage increased efforts toward the development of beta-glucan-containing functional foods and promote the intake of beta-glucan-rich foods, with the aim of reducing healthcare costs and disease prevalence.
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