Beta glucan: a valuable functional ingredient in foods

Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2012;52(3):201-12. doi: 10.1080/10408398.2010.499806.

Abstract

β-Glucan is a valuable functional ingredient and various extraction techniques are available for its extraction. Choice of an appropriate extraction technique is important as it may affect the quality, structure, rheological properties, molecular weight, and other functional properties of the extracted β-glucan. These properties lead to the use of β-glucan into various food systems and have important implications in human health. This review focuses on the extraction, synthesis, structure, molecular weight, and rheology of β-glucan. Furthermore, health implications and utilization of β-glucan in food products is also discussed.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Carrier Proteins / chemistry
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Chemical Phenomena
  • Dietary Fiber / administration & dosage*
  • Dietary Fiber / analysis
  • Dietary Fiber / metabolism
  • Edible Grain / chemistry
  • Edible Grain / metabolism
  • Food, Fortified / analysis*
  • Health Promotion
  • Humans
  • Lectins / chemistry
  • Lectins / metabolism
  • Molecular Structure
  • Molecular Weight
  • beta-Glucans / administration & dosage*
  • beta-Glucans / chemistry
  • beta-Glucans / isolation & purification
  • beta-Glucans / metabolism

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • Dietary Fiber
  • Lectins
  • beta-Glucans
  • glucan-binding proteins