Research Progress on the Mechanism and Structure-Activity Relationship of β-Glucans in Regulating the Health Effects of Gut Microbiota

doi:10.7506/spkx1002-6630-20250714-114

FOOD SCIENCE ›› 2025, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (24): 352-360.doi: 10.7506/spkx1002-6630-20250714-114

• Reviews • Previous Articles

Research Progress on the Mechanism and Structure-Activity Relationship of β-Glucans in Regulating the Health Effects of Gut Microbiota

LIU Yihang, GENG Jie, LIU Liping, FENG Jie, ZHANG Jinsong, LIU Yanfang

(1. Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genetics and Breeding of Shanghai, National R&D Center for Edible Fungal Processing, National Engineering Research Center of Edible Fungi, Key Laboratory of Edible Fungal Resources and Utilization (South), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Edible Fungi, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 201403, China; 2. College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China)

Published:2025-12-26

Abstract

Abstract: β-Glucans, dietary polysaccharides coming from a wide variety of sources, have been researched intensively. Being resistant to oral and gastrointestinal digestion, β-glucans can reach the colon where they are fermented by the gut microbiota, generating health-benefiting metabolites and demonstrating excellent prebiotic properties. This article reviews the diverse sources and structures of β-glucans, elucidates their functional mechanisms in regulating gut and systemic health, and summarizes the structure-activity relationship of β-glucans as prebiotics. The review aims to provide a theoretical foundation for the application of β-glucans.

Key words: β-glucans; gut microbiota; prebiotic activity; structure-activity relationship

CLC Number:

TS201.4

LIU Yihang, GENG Jie, LIU Liping, FENG Jie, ZHANG Jinsong, LIU Yanfang. Research Progress on the Mechanism and Structure-Activity Relationship of β-Glucans in Regulating the Health Effects of Gut Microbiota[J]. FOOD SCIENCE, 2025, 46(24): 352-360.

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Research Progress on the Mechanism and Structure-Activity Relationship of β-Glucans in Regulating the Health Effects of Gut Microbiota

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