Special edition: Immune support
Wellmune WGP
Another standout branded ingredient is Wellmune WGP from Biothera. It is a beta-glucan based ingredient derived from the cell walls of a proprietary strain of baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) that ‘primes’ the innate immune system - the body’s first line of defense against invasion by bacteria and viruses.
The ingredient can withstand wide pH ranges, high temperatures and harsh processing conditions, claims Biothera.
To produce it, Biothera removes the mannans, proteins and lipids from a proprietary strain of yeast to produce a highly purified beta 1,3/1,6 glucan (which should be distinguished from cholesterol-busting oat beta glucan, which has a different molecular structure: 1,3/1,4).
Unlike many probiotics, which have typically been used in short shelf-life refrigerated products, Wellmune WGP has a five-year shelf life in powder form under ambient storage conditions and a mild taste.