For some kids, a sick day spent at home curled up in bed can feel like the end of the world. After all, they’d very much rather be at school, spending time with friends or classmates, or playing games at the playground.
While some sick days are inevitable, many of them are avoidable—even for sickly kids. The road to healthier days in kids may start at home with an assist from the parents, of course!
Aside from a healthy diet and frequent exercise, parents can consider giving supplements containing nutrients like beta-glucan that’ll help ensure their kids’ immune systems work properly. Unsure what this is? Take a closer look at how beta-glucan works and how it may play a role in kids’ immunity.
What Is Beta-Glucan Used For?
Beta-glucan is a type of dietary fiber that’s mainly composed of sugar molecules that are linked together. It can be found in mushrooms, cereal grains, seaweed, and baker’s yeast, or Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Among these sources, beta-glucan derived from baker’s yeast has shown the strongest and most potent bioactivity, resulting in a wide range of health benefits.
In particular, researchers from an April 2025 study noted that beta-glucan has shown great promise in providing immunomodulatory benefits, hence the nickname given to it: “the immune gold.”
Beta-Glucan for Immunity: Why It May Be Worth Giving to Kids
Beta-glucan has already been examined in various studies, with positive results. For starters, authors of a 2015 study noted that short-term oral intake of beta-glucan helped stimulate physical endurance in kids who suffered from respiratory problems while stabilizing their mucosal immunity. Findings from another study published in 2014 reported the same benefit: stimulated mucosal immunity among children with chronic respiratory issues.
An Ally in Maintaining Kids’ Immunity
You may wonder: Why is beta-glucan worth including in kids’ daily health routines anyway? Well, it may be helpful to look at the bigger picture. The 2023 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) revealed a concerning trend among Filipino students. Out of the 81 countries that participated in PISA, the Philippines recorded the highest rate of long-term absenteeism in students.
Data showed that 30% of Filipino students were absent for more than three consecutive months at least once during their schooling years. These absences are more than just records in someone’s file; they are missed opportunities to sharpen their skills in various subjects. Sadly, the effects of these absences are reflected in the poor performance of Filipino students in Reading, Mathematics, and Science tests, wherein recorded scores were well below the world average.
While it’s true that various factors may be to blame for long-term absenteeism in Filipino students, illnesses are one of the most common reasons why students miss school and playtime. Whether it’s something common like a cough, cold, or fever, or something more “long-term” and concerning, it’s important to address and prevent them right away.
This is where beta-glucan can come in. While it’s not meant to serve as a singular cure for illnesses that may result in absenteeism in kids, it can work together with other nutrients to maintain normal immune system function. With a healthy diet and exercise, combining beta-glucan with other vital childhood nutrients may provide much-needed help to sustain normal immune system function that may be beneficial in their growing years.
What Should You Give for Kids’ Immune Health?
Don’t let illnesses get in the way of a kid’s potential! If you’re looking for a helping hand in ensuring the ideal function of kids’ immune systems, ask your pediatrician about Ceelin® Immunped.
This supplement contains 90 mg of beta-glucan per 5 mL syrup, vitamin C, and zinc, all of which help support immune system function together with a proper diet and exercise. Aside from beta-glucan, Ceelin® Immunped also contains two powerhouse immune-boosting nutrients for kids, namely:
- Vitamin C: Helps maintain normal immune system function and promotes the formation of collagen within the skin, together with a proper diet and exercise
- Zinc: Helps maintain normal immune system function, protect cells against oxidative stress, and play a role in children’s growth and in the cell division process, together with a proper diet and exercise
When the threat of frequent illnesses comes around, make sure your kid is prepared to withstand them all. See to it that your kids’ immune system works normally with the help of Ceelin® Immunped alongside a proper diet and exercise.
Ceelin® Immunped is available online and in leading drugstores nationwide at a suggested retail price (SRP) of Php465 per 100 ml bottle.
MAHALAGANG PAALALA: ANG CEELIN® IMMUNPED AY HINDI GAMOT AT HINDI DAPAT GAMITING PANGGAMOT SA ANUMANG URI NG SAKIT.
ASC REFERENCE CODE: U0360P121725C
References:
1. OECD. (2023, December 4). Philippines. Retrieved November 24, 2025, from OECD | PISA 2022 Results: Philippines Country Note
2. Feng, X., Shang, J., Wang, Y., Chen, Y., & Liu, Y. (2025). Exploring the properties and application potential of β-Glucan in skin care. Food Science & Nutrition, 13(4), e70212. Wiley Online Library | Exploring the Properties and Application Potential of β-Glucan in Skin Care
3. Bhoite, R., Satyavrat, V., & Sadananda, M. P. (2022). Clinical benefits of β-glucan supplementation in children: A review. Discover Food, 2(1), 37. Springer | Clinical Benefits of β-Glucan Supplementation in Children
4. Vuscan, P., et al. (2024). Potent induction of trained immunity by Saccharomyces cerevisiae β-glucans. Frontiers in Immunology, 15, 1323333. Frontiers | Potent Induction of Trained Immunity by Saccharomyces cerevisiae β-Glucans
5. Richter, J., et al. (2015). β-glucan affects mucosal immunity in children with chronic respiratory problems under physical stress: Clinical trials. PMC | β-Glucan and Mucosal Immunity in Children Under Physical Stress
6. Richter, J., et al. (2014). Clinical trials of yeast-derived β-(1,3) glucan in children: Effects on innate immunity. PMC | Clinical Trials of Yeast-Derived β-Glucan in Children
7. Ciecierska, A., et al. (2019). Nutraceutical functions of beta-glucans in human nutrition. Roczniki Państwowego Zakładu Higieny, 70(4), 315–324. National Institute of Public Health (Poland) | Nutraceutical Functions of Beta-Glucans
8. Definition of beta-glucan – NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms. (n.d.). Retrieved November 24, 2025, from National Cancer Institute | Definition of Beta-Glucan
9. Chi, C. (2023, December 11). Behind Philippines’ poor PISA performance: Worst long-term absenteeism in the world. Philstar | Behind Philippines’ Poor PISA Performance
