BETA GLUCANS (OAT)
Product No. P02032
β-Glucans (beta-glucans) are polysaccharides of D-glucose monomers linked by β-glycosidic bonds. Beta glucans are a diverse group of molecules that can vary with respect to molecular mass, solubility, viscosity, and three-dimensional configuration.
Oat beta glucans are found in the common oat (Avena sativa), a species of cereal grain grown for its seed.
Oat beta-glucan is a soluble fibre. It is a viscous polysaccharide. Oat beta-glucan is composed of mixed-linkage polysaccharides. This means that the bonds between the D-glucose or D-glucopyranosyl units are either beta-1, 3 linkages or beta-1, 4 linkages. This type of beta-glucan is also referred to as a mixed-linkage (1→3), (1→4)-beta-D-glucan. The (1→3)-linkages break up the uniform structure of the beta-D-glucan molecule and make it soluble and flexible. In comparison, the non-digestible polysaccharide cellulose is also a beta-glucan but is non-soluble. The reason that it is non-soluble is that cellulose consists only of (1→4)-beta-D-linkages.
The percentages of beta-glucan in the various whole oat products are: oat bran, greater than 5.5% and up to 23.0%; rolled oats, about 4%; whole oat flour about 4%.
Oat beta glucans has a long history of safe use in skin care and dermatology as a long-lasting, film-forming moisturiser. It has also been shown to work as anti-irritant and to speed up healing of shallow abrasions and partial thickness burns. Beta-glucan appears to enhance wound healing through several mechanisms including the stimulation of collagen deposition, activation of immune cells and so forth.
Eating foods rich in beta-glucan, like that found in oats, can help to control appetite by increasing the feeling of fullness. It is also believed to help lower cholesterol levels, and increase bile secretions.
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