ABSTRACT
Obesity and high cholesterol levels are the main risk factors for cardiac and metabolic disorders like diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease and hypertension. Despite many strategies for preventing and curing hyperlipidemia, currently, no effective treatment is available. So, for better therapeutic options with fewer side effects, researchers are focusing on plant-based natural products. β-Glucans, linear unbranched polysaccharides, are important constituents of dietary fibers and considered as potential molecules for lowering the cholesterol level and reducing obesity by interfering with bile secretion and lipid absorption. In addition, β-glucans modulate the microbiome in the gut and affect bile acid metabolism. Therefore, β-glucans control obesity and serum lipid profile through a multi-faceted mechanism. Chapter 6 reviews the proven role of β-glucans in metabolic disorders like dyslipidemia and obesity.
