A Golden Key for Heart Health: Beta-Glucan

beta glucan market

The beta-glucan market is evaluated at US$370.313 million for the year 2020 growing at a CAGR of 7.16% reaching a market size of US$600.982 million by the year 2027.

According to the National Cancer Institute, Beta Glucan is a substance that is found in bacteria, plants, and certain foods such as baker’s yeast, mushrooms, cereal grains, etc. Beta-Glucan is made of a string of glucose molecules joined together. It is a type of polysaccharide that may stimulate the immune system and help in killing cancer cells. It offers numerous benefits such as improvement in cholesterol levels and improvement in heart health. The growing product demand in functional food and animal feed applications is expected to be a key driving factor for the beta-glucan market during the forecast period.

The key factors driving the growth of the Beta-glucan market are its health benefits, the rising number of patients with chronic heart diseases, and the growing trend in personal health during the forecast period.

The beta-glucan offers numerous health benefits to the human body. It is a soluble fiber readily available from oat and barley grains which has multiple functional and bioactive properties. According to Harvard University’s The Nutrition Source, the beta-glucan in oats has the ability to help slow digestion, suppress appetite, and increase satiety. Furthermore, beta-glucan can help in throwing the cholesterol out of the body by binding the cholesterol-rich bile acids in the intestine and transporting them through the digestive tract. Moreover, beta-glucan fiber can also help in preventing a sharp rise in blood sugar and insulin levels after eating a meal and may benefit gut health. These health benefits are expected to propel the market for beta-glucan in the upcoming years.

Additionally, the increasing cases of chronic heart diseases due to limited physical activities, unhealthy diet, hypertension, high cholesterol, and obesity among others are giving rise to the demand for healthy alternatives such as beta-glucan. As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the United States of America, about 679 thousand people died from heart disease in 2020. Furthermore, the World Health Organization also reported that cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally. It is estimated that every year cardiovascular diseases take 17.9 million lives each year. Hence, it is evident from the data that heart diseases are becoming a matter of concern. Therefore, to tackle this issue the world population has shifted its focus toward personal health. The prime concern of the global population has become the prevention of disease rather than after-treatment medication. Henceforth, the global population is moving toward innovative products, especially under the nutritious segments, which is expected to propel the demand for beta-glucan in the market.

Owing to mushrooms’ wide applications, its demand is expected to surge rapidly.

On the basis of the source, the beta-glucan market is segmented into cereals, mushrooms, yeasts, and others. As per the analysts, the mushrooms are expecting rapid growth during the forecast period. Furthermore, the health benefits of mushroom-derived beta-glucan, such as high-protein, vitamin, and fiber content along with low cholesterol, fat and carbs are positively benefiting the growth of the beta-glucan market under this segment. Additionally, the anti-allergic, anti-cholesterol, and anti-tumor qualities of mushrooms further support the health-conscious purchase patterns of consumers. The soluble fiber in mushrooms also helps to prevent cardiovascular disorders which makes them a beneficial food option for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical purposes. The beta-glucan market may experience further growth because of the expanding use of Shiitake mushrooms to increase mucosal barrier resistance to inflammation and stop the development of intestinal ulcers.

The beta-glucan market is anticipated to be significantly dominated by the cosmetics and personal care sector.

The beta-glucan market is divided into food and drink, cosmetics and personal care, pharmaceuticals, and other categories based on application. The rising awareness of the benefits of beta-glucan in the personal care industry coupled with rising disposable income has bolstered the demand for beta-glucan in this segment. Oats-derived beta-glucan is used as a component in cosmetic products made by the personal care and cosmetics industries. Furthermore, beta-glucan assists in skin layer exfoliation and offers protective characteristics which aid in skin texture restoration. It is the best ingredient for cleansers, lotions, and moisturizers because of its skin-moisturizing qualities and antibacterial function. Henceforth, these benefits of beta-glucan in the cosmetics and personal care segment is expected to support the market growth during the forecast period.

According to analysts, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to witness positive growth during the forecast period.

Based on Geography, the beta-glucan market is divided into North America, South America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. Geographically, the Asia-pacific region is predicted to acquire a notable share within the beta-glucan market. that can be primarily attributed to the presence of colossal industry bases in countries like China, India, and Japan. Furthermore, the changing lifestyle, growing economy, and a gradual shift towards natural products are witnessed in developing countries like India, and China. The demand for beta-glucan extracted from different raw materials is expected to surge in the forthcoming years. Such a shift towards healthy nutritional diet practices can be traced back to the importance of personal health, physical wellness, and health-conscious decision-making consumer behavior. Additionally, the low cost of labor and raw materials coupled with increasing demand is a key factor in supporting the growth of the beta-glucan market in the Asia-Pacific region.

COVID-19 Insights

The outbreak of COVID-19 had a significant impact on the beta-glucan market. Owing to the rising need to attain protection from the contamination of the virus, the world population shifted its focus towards more healthy alternatives. As a result of rising health awareness, the demand for nutritious food rose amid the global pandemic. Moreover, the need for a strong immune system to fight off the virus bolstered the demand for immune boosters and nutritious food during this period. However, the imposed lockdowns and social distancing measures across the globe led to partial or complete shutdowns of manufacturing units. Consequently, the supply of beta-glucan was hindered owing to issues like demand and supply chain gaps, and slow market growth during the pandemic.