Nutraceutical partnership targets US beta glucan market

Danish-based nutraceutical ingredient provider, Fluxome has forged a partnership with Norwegian biotechnology research company GlycaNova to market and sell its beta glucan product, branded as Fluxome Beta Glucan, in the US dietary supplement market.

Steen Andersen, Fluxome CEO, told NutraIngredientsUSA.com: “The beta glucan product developed by GlycaNova holds a huge commercial potential due to its unique documented immune-stimulating effects.​

Significant growth potential​

“The US beta glucan market holds significant growth potential with expected annual growth rates of 10-15% for the following years. The market for beta glucan ingredients has an estimated value of USD 80-100m​,” he added.

A natural beta glucan product manufactured by fermentation, Fluxome Beta Glucan is said to have immune-enhancing effects in humans; as documented in a number of clinical trials.

Beta-glucans are fiber-type polysaccharides or sugar compounds. Researchers have investigated the nutritional benefits of beta glucan for 70 years. Derived from broken cell walls of yeast, mushrooms, barley and oats, beta glucans can reduce unhealthy amounts of serum cholesterol and boost the immune system.

Beta Glucan can activate macrophages, or white blood cells, and B lymphocytes, natural killer cells, and suppressor T cells. It is also thought to be an effective antioxidant and free radical scavenger.

Currently available in the US, Fluxome Beta Glucan is formulated as a blend for use in tablets and capsules.

Contamination problems​

The company claimed that its beta glucan product has “superior levels of product consistency​” and addresses issues such as contamination problems in the supplement industry.

Bjørn Kristiansen, GlycaNova CEO confirmed: “Our production process employs no chemical steps, such as solvent extraction, which could harm the beta glucan molecule, in particular its triple helix structure which is so important for the immune response. Furthermore, with our production technology we can guarantee an absence of pesticides, heavy metals or other undesired elements in the product​.”

Meanwhile, differences in the molecular structure of various beta 1,3/1,6 glucans can significantly affect their ability to boost immune system responses, according to research presented at the National Cancer Institutes’ Frontiers in Basic Immunology 2009 event at the end of last year.
Slight differences in branching, molecular weight and higher order structure can result in differences in innate immune activity, according to the research presented by Biothera.