Interaction between β-glucans and gut microbiota: a comprehensive review

Gut microbiota (GMB) in humans plays a crucial role in health and diseases. Diet can regulate the composition and function of GMB which are associated with different human diseases. Dietary fibers can induce different health benefits through stimulation of beneficial GMB. β-glucans (BGs) as dietary fibers have gained much interest due to their various functional properties. They can have therapeutic roles on gut health based on modulation of GMB, intestinal fermentation, production of different metabolites, and so on. There is an increasing interest in food industries in commercial application of BG as a bioactive substance into food formulations. The aim of this review is considering the metabolizing of BGs by GMB, effects of BGs on the variation of GMB population, influence of BGs on the gut infections, prebiotic effects of BGs in the gut, in vivo and in vitro fermentation of BGs and effects of processing on BG fermentability.