Biothera's beta-glucan ingredient may reduce respiratory tract infections
Healthy medical students receiving supplements of Biothera’s Wellmune WGP branded ingredient reported 43 fewer days of symptoms, compared with their classmates receiving placebo.
Medical students received either a daily Wellmune supplement (250 mg) or placebo for 90 days. At the end of the study period, the Wellmune group experienced 18 percent fewer days with self-reported URTI symptoms, compared with the placebo group (198 days versus 241 days, respectively).
The researchers, led by Richard Fuller, MD, of The Dove Clinic for Integrated Medicine, also report that no induction in inflammatory cytokines was measured in the beta-glucan group.
“Medical students working long hours in hospitals are placing tremendous stress on their immune systems,” said Dr Fuller. “Wellmune WGP activates innate immune cells, the body’s first line of defense, which helped students become more resilient to health challenges.”
The results were welcomed by Don Cox, PhD, senior VP of research and development at Biothera, who said they were “consistent with previous clinical studies that demonstrate the protective effects of Wellmune WGP for individuals during cold-flu season or periods of high physical or psychological stress”.
Source: Society for Immunology conference
“A randomised controlled trial to assess the ability of yeast-derived 1,3/1,6 glucopolysaccharide to reduce upper respiratory tract infection symptoms.”
Authors: R. Fuller et al.
