Physiology function of gastrointestinal effects of β-glucan

β-glucans is a class of liner polysaccharides composed of β-glucopyranosyl units linked by (1→3) , (1 →4) or (1 →6) glycosidic linkages.Without effects on reducing blood cholesterol and controlling blood glucose, β-glucans also have abundant gastrointestinal effects.These effects of cereal β-glucans on the gastric emptying, the nutrient absorption and intestinal motility in the small bowel as well as the microbial growth and the fermentation activity in the large bowel were reviewed in details here.Meanwhile, gastrointestinal effects of yeast β-glucans and salecan were introduced.Further, the application of β-glucan exopolysaccharide produced by bacteria was prospected.