nofima.no
Creating value
2013
33
financed by:
Foundation for Research Levy
on Agricultural Products
Now a post doc, Anne Rieder is studying techniques to maintain the molecular structure and properties of beta-glucans in various products.
photo: Jon-Are Berg-Jacobsen © nofima
Beta-glucans are a group of dietary fibres found in
barley, oats, fungi and yeast, among other things. They
consist of glucose molecules that are joined in such a
way that they cannot be broken down by the body’s
own enzymes. Beta-glucans are a heterogeneous group
and the structure of these macro molecules varies de-
pending on where they come from. Consequently, varia-
tions in the biological effect are expected.
“Like many others, we have used in vitro studies to
study the immunological mechanisms. These are often
sensitive to contamination of the samples, which can
lead to false positive results,” says Anne.
A new method has been developed that makes it
possible to see if the measured effect is related to the
beta-glucan itself. “Specially selected enzymes are used
to cut the chains. If the measurable biological effect
disappears, we know that it is the chain that is working,
and consequently the beta-glucan,” says Anne.
Developed a generic method:
The method is generic,
meaning it can be useful for any research wanting
to study which macro molecules in food and dietary
supplements could have a specific effect on immune
defences.
“We found that the effective mechanism for cereal
beta-glucans was different from what we thought, but
particulate yeast beta-glucans appear to be able to
affect epithelial and immune cells directly, so we need
to continue searching for what other mechanisms cereal
beta-glucans might have,» says Anne Rieder.
When the scientists arrive at the correct effective
mechanism for the various beta-glucans, the next step
is to isolate beta-glucans with special characteristics that
can be used in food, so as to maximise the effect.
Scientists have developed a method to determine if immunological re
sponses of different beta-glucans are related to the intact glucan-chain.
Beta-glucan and immune defence
