Pleuran (beta-glucan from Pleurotus ostreatus) – an immunoceutical in pediatric respiratory disorders

The benefits of a healthy immune system have become a topic of interest in recent years, both for health pro­fes­sio­nals and the general population. Changes in lifestyle, glo­bally, are making us focus more on prevention, by main­tai­ning a balanced immune system. Respiratory tract in­fec­tions in the pediatric population represent a real glo­bal health problem, with multiple repercussions on the child, the family and the global economy, due to increased pre­va­lence and multiple hospitalizations, representing one of the significant causes of morbidity and mortality in children under 5 years of age. Immunomodulation may be the key to preventing these respiratory conditions. Known since ancient times, the benefits of beta-glucans ex­trac­ted from mushrooms, especially Pleurotus ostreatus, are now being intensively studied, with increasingly solid evi­dence regarding the protection of the respiratory tract. All specialized studies have demonstrated a reduction in the number of respiratory infectious episodes in children who followed regular treatments with pleuran, the beta-glu­can extracted from Pleurotus ostreatus. The benefits of this immunoceutical on health have been documented mul­ti­sys­te­mi­cally, due to its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti­cancer and antiviral properties. This paper aims to highlight the benefits of pleuran on the respiratory sys­tem, by reducing both the frequency and the severity of in­fec­tious episodes in pediatric patients. At the onset of the res­pi­ra­tory disease season, we thus join the global effort to support the maintenance of a balanced immune system through preventive measures, while also contributing to the re­duc­tion of antibiotic use, which represents a significant pu­blic health concern.