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Liver Health

Beta-glucan show signals of supporting liver health by improving blood lipids, gut microbes, and liver inflammation/fibrosis, but benefits vary by source, dose, and diet and are not yet a substitute for proven therapies.

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    Written by:
    1. Beta Glucan PhD Team,

      Beta Glucan PhD Team

      Beta Glucan PhD Team

    We analyze peer-reviewed research on supplements.

    We rely on peer-reviewed scientific research to determine what’s truly effective. Our goal is to provide clear, unbiased information to help you make better health decisions.

    We use AI tools to help summarize studies, and every piece of content is reviewed and approved by qualified experts, ensuring it’s accurate and trustworthy.

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    Podcast

    Not all cereal fibers are equal: highland barley β-glucan most strongly improved “metabolic syndrome” features in mice and calmed liver-fat/inflammation pathwaysNew

    A common immune-boosting sugar (β-glucan) protects liver immune cells in sepsis and helps clear bacteria in mice.New

    Barley β-glucan reduced fatty liver and improved blood fats in mice fed a Western-style dietNew

    A yeast fiber (β-glucan) lowered blood sugar and reduced liver fat in diabetic mice by blocking gut absorption and resetting liver metabolism.New

    Different fibers (β-glucan, pectin, and several inulin types) all blocked weight gain in high-fat–fed mice, even though they changed gut bacteria in different waysNew

    Barley fiber changed liver and fat-tissue genes for fat handling and improved health markers in obese miceNew

    In mice with fatty-liver disease, oat β-glucan reshaped gut bacteria and slowed liver scarringNew

    A short, small study hints that two yeast-derived oat-like fibers (β-glucans) may reduce blood sugar, cholesterol, and inflammation markers in healthy middle-aged men.New

    “Refined” lab diets sped up aging-like problems in mouse liver and brain; adding fiber slowed memory decline but didn’t fix liver issues. New

    Barley-fiber–rich extracts eased “fatty-diet + stress” memory problems in mice by improving gut microbes, gut lining, and brain signals. New

    1. Jaeger Microbiota modulation by dietary oat beta-glucan prevents steatotic liver disease progression 2024
    2. Liu Hepatic Lipidomics Analysis Reveals the Ameliorative Effects of Highland Barley β-Glucan on Western Diet-Induced Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Mice 2021
    3. Yang Effects of β-Glucan from Three Different Sources on Glucolipid Metabolism in Mice with Metabolic Syndrome 2025
    4. Ikewaki Beta 1,3-1,6 Glucans Produced by Two Novel Strains of Aureobasidium Pullulans Exert Immune and Metabolic Beneficial Effects in Healthy Middle-aged Japanese Men: Results of an Exploratory Randomized Control Study 2023
    5. Wang Barley β-glucan reduces blood cholesterol levels via interrupting bile acid metabolism 2017
    6. Cao Orally Administered Baker's Yeast β‑Glucan Promotes Glucose and Lipid Homeostasis in the Livers of Obesity and Diabetes Model Mice 2017
    7. Mio Effects of β-glucan Rich Barley Flour on Glucose and Lipid Metabolism in the Ileum, Liver, and Adipose Tissues of High-Fat Diet Induced-Obesity Model Male Mice Analyzed by DNA Microarray 2020
    8. Adams β-Glucan Protects Against Sepsis-Induced Kupffer Cell Loss by Inhibiting Pyroptosis and Promoting Self-Renewal 2025
    9. Drew Dietary fibers inhibit obesity in mice, but host responses in the cecum and liver appear unrelated to fiber-specific changes in cecal bacterial taxonomic composition 2018
    10. Fan Barley polysaccharides modulate metabolic and mild cognitive impairment in naturally aging mice through the liver-gut-brain axis 2025
    11. Kromm Aging-related decline in the liver and brain is accelerated by refined diet consumption 2025

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