Compound or practice · Nutrition

Beta-Glucans

Two different molecules under one name: oat beta-glucan reliably lowers LDL; yeast/mushroom beta-glucan modulates immunity.

Overall grade: Grade B
Last revised: Jul 10, 2026; 3
graded outcomes: 0
references listed

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A structured monograph in Prometheus's bundled library. Its grades are the monograph's own reading of the evidence, not a peer-reviewed review.

2 at grade A · 1 at grade B · 1 at grade C — 4 graded rows

What is known

Each outcome with its grade (how strong the evidence is, A to D), the size of the effect where the entry records one, and how often studies agree.

Outcome	Grade	Effect size	Agreement
LDL cholesterol (oat)Approved claim	Evidence grade A	Small	high
Post-meal glucose (oat)Viscous fiber	Evidence grade B	Small	high
Respiratory infections (yeast)Immune priming	Evidence grade C	Small	mixed

LDL cholesterol (oat)Evidence grade A
Approved claim
Smallhigh
Post-meal glucose (oat)Evidence grade B
Viscous fiber
Smallhigh
Respiratory infections (yeast)Evidence grade C
Immune priming
Smallmixed

Conditions

How the entry reads its effect on diagnosed conditions: the direction first, then the grade. Never a substitute for the person who treats you.

Dyslipidemia ImprovesEvidence grade AOat beta-glucanGrade A

What is uncertain

Read off the same rows as above. Nothing here is added that the entry does not itself record.

Thin evidence: Respiratory infections (yeast) (grade C).

The evidence in words

What it is

Beta-glucans are polysaccharides — the soluble oat/barley form for cholesterol, and the yeast/mushroom form for immune modulation.

How it works

Oat beta-glucan forms a viscous gel that binds bile acids (lowering LDL) and blunts glucose; yeast/mushroom beta-glucans prime innate immune cells.

What the evidence shows

Grade A/B for oat beta-glucan lowering LDL (an approved heart-health claim) and blunting post-meal glucose. Yeast/mushroom beta-glucans show modest reductions in respiratory-infection incidence in some trials. Match the molecule to the goal.

How to use it

3 g/day oat beta-glucan for cholesterol; standardized yeast/mushroom beta-glucan for immune support.

Safety & interactions

Very safe; gas/bloating with the soluble-fiber form.

Bottom line

Know which one you want: oat beta-glucan for LDL and glucose (well-proven), yeast/mushroom beta-glucan for modest immune support.

How it is used

As the entry records it, from the studies it summarises. Not a recommendation for you — doses that suit a trial population may not suit you.

Cholesterol: 3 g/day oat beta-glucan.

Entries that share this one's tags or conditions.

Beta-Glucans for DyslipidemiaEvidence grade A — Oat beta-glucanEvidence grade A
Beta-Glucans for LDL cholesterol (oat)Evidence grade A — Approved claimEvidence grade A
Beta-Glucans for Post-meal glucose (oat)Evidence grade B — Viscous fiberEvidence grade B
Beta-Glucans for Respiratory infections (yeast)Evidence grade C — Immune primingEvidence grade C

Sources

This entry lists no references of its own.

Last revised Jul 10, 2026. A grade is this entry's reading of the evidence, not medical advice.