Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39875626›Full record

SynthesisEuropean journal of clinical nutrition2025

Effects of β-glucans on fatigue: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Masahiro Muroya, Kumiko Nakada, Kazushi Maruo, Koichi Hashimoto

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in European journal of clinical nutrition, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Review
  5. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Masahiro MuroyaDepartment of Clinical and Translational Research Methodology, Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
Kumiko NakadaDepartment of Clinical and Translational Research Methodology, Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
Kazushi MaruoDepartment of Biostatistics, Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
Koichi HashimotoDepartment of Clinical and Translational Research Methodology, Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan. koichi.hashimoto@md.tsukuba.ac.jp.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8474-6456

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Several clinical trials suggest that β-glucans may reduce feelings of fatigue, however the results of clinical trials are inconsistent. Additionally, no systematic reviews or meta-analyses have assessed the effects of β-glucans on fatigue. Therefore, this study investigates the effects of β-glucans on fatigue in healthy subjects through a systematic review and meta-analysis. PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) were searched from database inception to March 15, 2024. The inclusion criterion was a randomized controlled trial (RCT) investigating the effects of β-glucans on healthy subjects' fatigue, vigor, and mood state. To assess risk of bias, we employed the Cochrane risk of bias tool. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted for the standardized mean difference (SMD). Sixteen RCTs with a total of 1,449 participants were included, and 12 studies provided data suitable for meta-analysis. Meta-analysis revealed that β-glucans significantly reduced feelings of fatigue (SMD = -0.32, 95% CI = -0.53 to -0.12; p = 0.0021), increased vigor (SMD = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.26-0.66; p < 0.0001), and improved mood state (SMD = 0.32, 95% CI = 0.11-0.53; p = 0.0026) compared to the placebo group. The results of the systematic review and meta-analysis indicate that β-glucans may be effective in reducing feelings of fatigue in healthy individuals. However, the number of studies included is insufficient, suggesting that further clinical trials are needed to validate this effect.

Indexed as

beta-GlucansFatigueAdultAffectFemaleHumansMaleRandomized Controlled Trials as Topicbeta-Glucans

Identifiers

PMID39875626
PMCPMC12353804

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.