Component

Viscosity developed by a solubilised glucan

Viscosity developed by a solubilised glucan. Species, exposure and limitations are retained in each linked claim.

4 recorded relationships. Experimental role, claim status and evidence remain attached to each record.

Read recorded mechanisms Open recursive mind map

How nutrients influence it

Every nutrient with a recorded effect on this component, credited to the nutrient that acted rather than the chapter that recorded it. Open a nutrient to see the findings and the conditions they were measured under.

How nutrients reach it in more than one step

Chains of two or more recorded steps that end here, grouped by the nutrient they start from. Each step is a separate finding, so a chain is a route a mechanism could take, not proof that it does.

Tracing routes…

What it does

Every recorded relationship this component is part of, grouped by its role. Plain wording comes first; the technical statement follows.

Recorded relationships

What it acts on

  1. Compared with the control cereal, 4 grams of oat beta-glucan significantly reduced glucose incremental area under the curve at 78 compared with 135 mmol x min/L and insulin at 14.0 compared with 26.8 nmol x min/L and delayed gastric emptying half-time to a geometric mean of 285 minutes compared with 105 minutes, effects not seen after the beta-glucanase-treated arm of the same dose, while subjective appetite, PYY and ghrelin responses were similar to control and pizza intakes at a subsequent unrestricted meal were not significantly different.

    Viscosity developed by a solubilised glucan → Human gastric emptying time source_derived_draftungraded
    Experimental context and source evidence
    availability_state
    biomarker_context Imported condition classification; unverified.
    evidence_span
    {"source_cache": "artifacts/glucan-research/31828287.abstract.txt", "locator": "Indexed abstract; zero-based, end-exclusive Unicode character offsets", "file_sha256": "983ae8675d933c4292f9f20059e93db94587b9a570fbfb602f5921f5bd7edd70", "start_char": 0, "end_char": 2204, "text_sha256": "983ae8675d933c4292f9f20059e93db94587b9a570fbfb602f5921f5bd7edd70"}
    experimental_model
    Double-blind randomised crossover trial in 28 participants with gastric emptying, appetite hormones and an unrestricted test lunch
    exposure
    Breakfast meals matched for weight, energy and macronutrients containing 2 or 4 grams of oat beta-glucan, or 4 grams treated with beta-glucanase to reduce molecular weight and viscosity
    limitations
    The beta-glucanase arm is the control that isolates viscosity. The trial was designed around food intake as the primary endpoint and found no effect on it.
    nutrient_topic
    Beta-glucan research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct clinical effect, and each preparation is recorded as its own entity with no family link joining any pair. · Beta-glucan
    organism
    Human
    plain_language
    The intact polymer held the meal in the stomach nearly three times longer; the same dose chopped up did nothing.
    primary_references
    [bg-p31828287] Increasing oat β-glucan viscosity in a breakfast meal slows gastric emptying and reduces glycemic and insulinemic responses but has no effect on appetite, food intake, or plasma ghrelin and PYY responses in healthy humans: a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. (2020). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31828287/ DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/nqz285
    tissue_or_cell_type
    Stomach and postprandial circulation
    trigger_kind
    biomarker_context Imported condition classification; unverified.

    Beta-glucan: a structural family rather than an agent, what decides whether a bound glucan actually signals, the complement route that a cereal and a yeast preparation share, and the unequal human evidence behind each (2026-09-22) · lines 580–591

    AI-assisted literature curation; primary study URLs and scope retained in the document and extraction. Not publisher full text. · supports · Double-blind randomised crossover trial in 28 participants with gastric emptying, appetite hormones and an unrestricted test lunch · source_derived_draft · unverified_draft

    ### bg-viscosity-slows-the-stomach Compared with the control cereal, 4 grams of oat beta-glucan significantly reduced glucose incremental area under the curve at 78 compared with 135 mmol x min/L and insulin at 14.0 compared with 26.8 nmol x min/L and delayed gastric emptying half-time to a geometric mean of 285 minutes compared with 105 minutes, effects not seen after the beta-glucanase-treated arm of the same dose, while subjective appetite, PYY and ghrelin responses were similar to control and pizza intakes at a subsequent unrestricted meal were not significantly different. Condition category: biomarker_context nutrient_topic: Beta-glucan research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct clinical effect, and each preparation is recorded as its own entity with no family link joining any pair. plain_language: The intact polymer held the meal in the stomach nearly three times longer; the same dose chopped up did nothing. organism: Human tissue_or_cell_type: Stomach and postprandial circulation experimental_model: Double-blind randomised crossover trial in 28 participants with gastric emptying, appetite hormones and an unrestricted test lunch limitations: The beta-glucanase arm is the control that isolates viscosity. The trial was designed around food intake as the primary endpoint and found no effect on it. exposure: Breakfast meals matched for weight, energy and macronutrients containing 2 or 4 grams of oat beta-glucan, or 4 grams treated with beta-glucanase to reduce molecular weight and viscosity evidence_span: {"source_cache": "artifacts/glucan-research/31828287.abstract.txt", "locator": "Indexed abstract; zero-based, end-exclusive Unicode character offsets", "file_sha256": "983ae8675d933c4292f9f20059e93db94587b9a570fbfb602f5921f5bd7edd70", "start_char": 0, "end_char": 2204, "text_sha256": "983ae8675d933c4292f9f20059e93db94587b9a570fbfb602f5921f5bd7edd70"} [bg-p31828287] Increasing oat β-glucan viscosity in a breakfast meal slows gastric emptying and reduces glycemic and insulinemic responses but has no effect on appetite, food intake, or plasma ghrelin and PYY responses in healthy humans: a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. (2020). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31828287/ DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/nqz285
    Complete structured claim and evidence

Where it participates (unsigned role)

  1. A notable loss of beta-glucan of 0.7 to 2.4 g/d or 13 to 64% was found when intake was compared with excretion, in vitro a higher viscosity development with time for dispersions of oat bread compared with barley bread was noted which could be related to the higher molecular weight of the beta-glucan in this bread, and there seemed to be a depolymerization of the beta-glucan both during bread making and transit through the upper gastrointestinal tract.

    Depolymerisation of a glucan polymer → Molecular weight of a glucan polymer source_derived_draftungraded
    Experimental context and source evidence
    availability_state
    biomarker_context Imported condition classification; unverified.
    evidence_span
    {"source_cache": "artifacts/glucan-research/8942412.abstract.txt", "locator": "Indexed abstract; zero-based, end-exclusive Unicode character offsets", "file_sha256": "9d60ab74209102dfe9e61c4f1a0f45fdc2119c986e385b8174a101f9f98ae3e1", "start_char": 0, "end_char": 1172, "text_sha256": "9d60ab74209102dfe9e61c4f1a0f45fdc2119c986e385b8174a101f9f98ae3e1"}
    experimental_model
    Ileostomy model comparing breads made from oat bran, a barley fraction and wheat flour
    exposure
    Diets based on oat bread, barley bread, wheat bread or oat bread with enzymatically degraded beta-glucan, providing 12.5, 12.9, 1.1 and 4.0 grams per day
    limitations
    Nine ileostomy subjects. The loss is inferred by comparing intake with excretion rather than measured directly as degradation.
    nutrient_topic
    Beta-glucan research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct clinical effect, and each preparation is recorded as its own entity with no family link joining any pair. · Beta-glucan
    organism
    Human
    plain_language
    A good deal of the polymer is already broken up by the time the bread is baked, let alone eaten.
    primary_references
    [bg-p8942412] Mixed-linked beta-glucan from breads of different cereals is partly degraded in the human ileostomy model. (1996). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8942412/ DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/64.6.878
    tissue_or_cell_type
    Terminal ileum
    trigger_kind
    biomarker_context Imported condition classification; unverified.

    Beta-glucan: a structural family rather than an agent, what decides whether a bound glucan actually signals, the complement route that a cereal and a yeast preparation share, and the unequal human evidence behind each (2026-09-22) · lines 554–565

    AI-assisted literature curation; primary study URLs and scope retained in the document and extraction. Not publisher full text. · supports · Ileostomy model comparing breads made from oat bran, a barley fraction and wheat flour · source_derived_draft · unverified_draft

    ### bg-bread-making-already-cuts-it A notable loss of beta-glucan of 0.7 to 2.4 g/d or 13 to 64% was found when intake was compared with excretion, in vitro a higher viscosity development with time for dispersions of oat bread compared with barley bread was noted which could be related to the higher molecular weight of the beta-glucan in this bread, and there seemed to be a depolymerization of the beta-glucan both during bread making and transit through the upper gastrointestinal tract. Condition category: biomarker_context nutrient_topic: Beta-glucan research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct clinical effect, and each preparation is recorded as its own entity with no family link joining any pair. plain_language: A good deal of the polymer is already broken up by the time the bread is baked, let alone eaten. organism: Human tissue_or_cell_type: Terminal ileum experimental_model: Ileostomy model comparing breads made from oat bran, a barley fraction and wheat flour limitations: Nine ileostomy subjects. The loss is inferred by comparing intake with excretion rather than measured directly as degradation. exposure: Diets based on oat bread, barley bread, wheat bread or oat bread with enzymatically degraded beta-glucan, providing 12.5, 12.9, 1.1 and 4.0 grams per day evidence_span: {"source_cache": "artifacts/glucan-research/8942412.abstract.txt", "locator": "Indexed abstract; zero-based, end-exclusive Unicode character offsets", "file_sha256": "9d60ab74209102dfe9e61c4f1a0f45fdc2119c986e385b8174a101f9f98ae3e1", "start_char": 0, "end_char": 1172, "text_sha256": "9d60ab74209102dfe9e61c4f1a0f45fdc2119c986e385b8174a101f9f98ae3e1"} [bg-p8942412] Mixed-linked beta-glucan from breads of different cereals is partly degraded in the human ileostomy model. (1996). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8942412/ DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/64.6.878
    Complete structured claim and evidence

  2. LDL cholesterol was significantly less with 3 g high molecular weight, 4 g medium molecular weight and 3 g medium molecular weight oat beta-glucan cereals than with the wheat-fiber cereal by 0.21 or 5.5%, 0.26 or 6.5% and 0.19 or 4.7% mmol/L respectively, however the effect of 4 g low molecular weight oat beta-glucan per day at 0.10 mmol/L was not significant, log of molecular weight times the amount solubilized was a significant determinant of LDL cholesterol, and efficacy was reduced by 50% when molecular weight was reduced to 210,000 g/mol.

    Molecular weight of a glucan polymer → LDL cholesterol concentration source_derived_draftungraded
    Experimental context and source evidence
    availability_state
    biomarker_context Imported condition classification; unverified.
    evidence_span
    {"source_cache": "artifacts/glucan-research/20660224.abstract.txt", "locator": "Indexed abstract; zero-based, end-exclusive Unicode character offsets", "file_sha256": "dbd9787f6688f544bb47e44be561d20ec653daf5627f9022ac1302249924daf0", "start_char": 0, "end_char": 2139, "text_sha256": "dbd9787f6688f544bb47e44be561d20ec653daf5627f9022ac1302249924daf0"}
    experimental_model
    Double-blind parallel-design multicentre trial randomising 367 people across four molecular weights and two doses
    exposure
    Extruded cereal delivering 3 or 4 grams per day of oat beta-glucan at molecular weights of 2,210,000, 850,000, 530,000 or 210,000 grams per mole for four weeks
    limitations
    The comparator is a wheat-fibre cereal and 345 of 367 completed. A nonsignificant estimate in one arm is not a demonstration of no effect.
    nutrient_topic
    Beta-glucan research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct clinical effect, and each preparation is recorded as its own entity with no family link joining any pair. · Beta-glucan
    organism
    Human
    plain_language
    Cutting the polymer into shorter pieces halved what it did, even at a higher dose.
    primary_references
    [bg-p20660224] Physicochemical properties of oat β-glucan influence its ability to reduce serum LDL cholesterol in humans: a randomized clinical trial. (2010). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20660224/ DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.2010.29174
    tissue_or_cell_type
    Serum LDL cholesterol
    trigger_kind
    biomarker_context Imported condition classification; unverified.

    Beta-glucan: a structural family rather than an agent, what decides whether a bound glucan actually signals, the complement route that a cereal and a yeast preparation share, and the unequal human evidence behind each (2026-09-22) · lines 515–526

    AI-assisted literature curation; primary study URLs and scope retained in the document and extraction. Not publisher full text. · supports · Double-blind parallel-design multicentre trial randomising 367 people across four molecular weights and two doses · source_derived_draft · unverified_draft

    ### bg-depolymerising-halves-the-effect LDL cholesterol was significantly less with 3 g high molecular weight, 4 g medium molecular weight and 3 g medium molecular weight oat beta-glucan cereals than with the wheat-fiber cereal by 0.21 or 5.5%, 0.26 or 6.5% and 0.19 or 4.7% mmol/L respectively, however the effect of 4 g low molecular weight oat beta-glucan per day at 0.10 mmol/L was not significant, log of molecular weight times the amount solubilized was a significant determinant of LDL cholesterol, and efficacy was reduced by 50% when molecular weight was reduced to 210,000 g/mol. Condition category: biomarker_context nutrient_topic: Beta-glucan research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct clinical effect, and each preparation is recorded as its own entity with no family link joining any pair. plain_language: Cutting the polymer into shorter pieces halved what it did, even at a higher dose. organism: Human tissue_or_cell_type: Serum LDL cholesterol experimental_model: Double-blind parallel-design multicentre trial randomising 367 people across four molecular weights and two doses limitations: The comparator is a wheat-fibre cereal and 345 of 367 completed. A nonsignificant estimate in one arm is not a demonstration of no effect. exposure: Extruded cereal delivering 3 or 4 grams per day of oat beta-glucan at molecular weights of 2,210,000, 850,000, 530,000 or 210,000 grams per mole for four weeks evidence_span: {"source_cache": "artifacts/glucan-research/20660224.abstract.txt", "locator": "Indexed abstract; zero-based, end-exclusive Unicode character offsets", "file_sha256": "dbd9787f6688f544bb47e44be561d20ec653daf5627f9022ac1302249924daf0", "start_char": 0, "end_char": 2139, "text_sha256": "dbd9787f6688f544bb47e44be561d20ec653daf5627f9022ac1302249924daf0"} [bg-p20660224] Physicochemical properties of oat β-glucan influence its ability to reduce serum LDL cholesterol in humans: a randomized clinical trial. (2010). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20660224/ DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.2010.29174
    Complete structured claim and evidence

  3. Native oat bran increased median excretion of bile acids by 144%, cholesterol excretion remained unchanged while cholesterol absorption decreased by 19% and the sum of bile acid and cholesterol excretion increased by 40% compared with hydrolysed oat bran, 7-alpha-hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one reflecting bile acid synthesis increased by 57% within 24 hours of consumption while serum lathosterol concentration reflecting cholesterol synthesis increased by 12%, and these effects could possibly be explained by entrapment of whole micelles in the gut owing to higher viscosity.

    Oat mixed-linkage beta-(1->3)/(1->4)-glucan → Faecal bile acid excretion source_derived_draftungraded
    Experimental context and source evidence
    availability_state
    biomarker_context Imported condition classification; unverified.
    evidence_span
    {"source_cache": "artifacts/glucan-research/17251929.abstract.txt", "locator": "Indexed abstract; zero-based, end-exclusive Unicode character offsets", "file_sha256": "96f0086004af03cea2b782fa14daef71ac29df5df3f790a2291fe375151c87b5", "start_char": 0, "end_char": 1618, "text_sha256": "96f0086004af03cea2b782fa14daef71ac29df5df3f790a2291fe375151c87b5"}
    experimental_model
    Crossover ileostomy study in nine volunteers with direct measurement of ileal output
    exposure
    Seventy-five grams of extruded oat bran cereal daily providing 11.6 grams of native or enzymatically hydrolysed beta-glucans over two 3-day periods
    limitations
    Nine ileostomy volunteers, which is what makes direct measurement of what leaves the small intestine possible. The comparator is the same material depolymerised, so the difference is attributable to the polymer rather than to the food.
    nutrient_topic
    Beta-glucan research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct clinical effect, and each preparation is recorded as its own entity with no family link joining any pair. · Beta-glucan
    organism
    Human
    plain_language
    The intact polymer swept bile acids out of the small intestine within a day, and the liver started making replacements.
    primary_references
    [bg-p17251929] Oat bran rapidly increases bile acid excretion and bile acid synthesis: an ileostomy study. (2007). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17251929/ DOI: 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602607
    tissue_or_cell_type
    Terminal ileum and serum
    trigger_kind
    biomarker_context Imported condition classification; unverified.

    Beta-glucan: a structural family rather than an agent, what decides whether a bound glucan actually signals, the complement route that a cereal and a yeast preparation share, and the unequal human evidence behind each (2026-09-22) · lines 541–552

    AI-assisted literature curation; primary study URLs and scope retained in the document and extraction. Not publisher full text. · supports · Crossover ileostomy study in nine volunteers with direct measurement of ileal output · source_derived_draft · unverified_draft

    ### bg-viscosity-drives-out-bile-acids Native oat bran increased median excretion of bile acids by 144%, cholesterol excretion remained unchanged while cholesterol absorption decreased by 19% and the sum of bile acid and cholesterol excretion increased by 40% compared with hydrolysed oat bran, 7-alpha-hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one reflecting bile acid synthesis increased by 57% within 24 hours of consumption while serum lathosterol concentration reflecting cholesterol synthesis increased by 12%, and these effects could possibly be explained by entrapment of whole micelles in the gut owing to higher viscosity. Condition category: biomarker_context nutrient_topic: Beta-glucan research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct clinical effect, and each preparation is recorded as its own entity with no family link joining any pair. plain_language: The intact polymer swept bile acids out of the small intestine within a day, and the liver started making replacements. organism: Human tissue_or_cell_type: Terminal ileum and serum experimental_model: Crossover ileostomy study in nine volunteers with direct measurement of ileal output limitations: Nine ileostomy volunteers, which is what makes direct measurement of what leaves the small intestine possible. The comparator is the same material depolymerised, so the difference is attributable to the polymer rather than to the food. exposure: Seventy-five grams of extruded oat bran cereal daily providing 11.6 grams of native or enzymatically hydrolysed beta-glucans over two 3-day periods evidence_span: {"source_cache": "artifacts/glucan-research/17251929.abstract.txt", "locator": "Indexed abstract; zero-based, end-exclusive Unicode character offsets", "file_sha256": "96f0086004af03cea2b782fa14daef71ac29df5df3f790a2291fe375151c87b5", "start_char": 0, "end_char": 1618, "text_sha256": "96f0086004af03cea2b782fa14daef71ac29df5df3f790a2291fe375151c87b5"} [bg-p17251929] Oat bran rapidly increases bile acid excretion and bile acid synthesis: an ileostomy study. (2007). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17251929/ DOI: 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602607
    Complete structured claim and evidence

In the sources

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