Yeast beta-glucan increases the body's ability to fight pathogens （1）

Yeast beta-glucan increases the body's ability to fight pathogens, and showed a 25%better record of cold-fighting compared to placebo in a new German study.

Using 162 healthy patients split into control and study groups, the study noted efficacy was ratedbetter than placebo by participants and physicians.

The study, published in European Journal of Nutrition, was funded by German firm Leiber which has a European Union health claim for the ingredient in process at the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

Leiber's EFSA submission for its Yestimun yeast beta-glucan includes the present study and builds on an earlier article 13.5 submission EFSA's health claims panel rejected in 2010.

On that occasion, EFSA said mechanisms of action had not been adequately demonstrated under the EU nutrition and health claims regulation (NHCR), and that an ad-hoc analysis that adjusted for seasonality variables did not in fact remove potential diagnostic error.

Leiber said it has learnt from that rejection and commissioning this trial with leading contract research organization and consultancy, analyse & realize, was part of its strategy to change theEFSA ruling.