In short
Everyday demands like poor sleep, pollution, diet and intense exercise can leave you feeling run down as your immune system works to keep up. USANA Proglucamune uses the power of USANA InCelligence Technology to support your immune system's ability to adapt, in two ways: it supports robust, healthy immune responses, and it maintains overall wellness and vitality, even during occasional stress.
You can watch the complete English video guide here: USANA Proglucamune: How Beta-Glucans & Zinc Prime Your Immune Cells.
Everyday stress and immune health
Too little sleep, excess pollution, unhealthy food, too little time outdoors, too little exercise — or exercising too often or too intensely — can all place mild stress on your immune system, and everyday mental or emotional stress can compound it.
Simple habits help: wash your hands regularly and live a healthy lifestyle. Nutritional strategies can add further support:
- A multivitamin and mineral supplement supplies the essential nutrients your body needs for overall health and to produce immune cells;
- Omega-3 fatty acids help maintain healthy cell membranes, supporting immune-cell function;
- Prebiotics and probiotics help maintain a healthy gut barrier;
- Targeted nutrients can help immune cells respond to everyday stresses — Proglucamune is formulated with a unique blend of them.
Priming: the two-key model
Proglucamune uses beta-glucans and zinc to support immune-cell signalling, priming already healthy immune cells to stay prepared for future challenges without fully activating too soon.
USANA describes it like a lock that needs two keys:
- Proglucamune provides the first key when its nutrients bind to a receptor on the immune cell, signalling it to prepare for action;
- The second key comes from bacteria, foreign substances or damaged cells. Once primed, macrophages, neutrophils and natural killer cells stay ready to respond quickly when that second signal appears.
Zinc supports cellular communication and helps amplify the effects of USANA InCelligence Technology, and a separate protein is required to activate the immune response, which helps prevent the immune system from being overworked. The result is a balanced state of readiness.
Two sources of beta-glucans
Beta-glucans are naturally occurring polysaccharides found in fungi, yeast and other sources. Most beta-glucan supplements contain a single source; Proglucamune combines mushrooms and baker's yeast, plus zinc, in the InCelligence Beta-Glucan Complex.
- Baker's yeast — not the common yeast used for baking. It provides a beta 1,3/1,6 glucan extracted from the cell wall of a highly purified, organic strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Studies in moderately stressed adults found maintained respiratory health, vigour, overall health and energy, with calmness and mental clarity also maintained during occasional mild stress.
- Reishi and shiitake — traditional Eastern cultures have used mushrooms for thousands of years. Reishi offers antioxidant activity and is considered an adaptogen, traditionally used to support balance and calmness. The organic whole-mushroom powders start from genetically pure strains grown on brown rice and antioxidant-rich purple corn, a proprietary process that helps preserve naturally occurring active compounds.
Measuring Protective Qi
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Protective Qi is associated with the body's ability to maintain resilience against everyday external stressors. USANA scientists turned it into something that could be evaluated:
- Study 1 developed a reproducible scoring system for Protective Qi;
- Study 2, a small uncontrolled pilot, suggested favourable changes with beta-glucan supplementation;
- Study 3, a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, found beta-glucan supported Protective Qi better than placebo.
How to take it and who it suits
- Directions: take two (2) tablets daily, preferably with food. It is designed to be taken every day.
- Ideal for: healthy adults, athletes, and people under occasional high levels of stress; for adults 18 years and older only.
- Precautions: if you have an autoimmune disease or immune system disorder, take immunosuppressant medication, or are pregnant, nursing, taking a prescription drug or have a medical condition, consult your doctor first. USANA does not recommend its general use during pregnancy.
- With other immune products: Proglucamune works through priming, a mechanism different from other immune-support ingredients, so combining them may further help support a healthy immune system.
Official resources and next steps
- 📄 USANA price list — member vs retail prices, free to download
- 📖 USANA Proglucamune product page
- 📖 Best Supplements for Immune Support
- 📖 USANA Vitamin D Guide
This educational article is based on USANA's official science resources (Ask The Scientists). Product names, formulas and pack sizes can differ by market — always read your local label and follow the directions for use. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration; this product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. This article is general nutrition information, not medical advice, and supplements should not replace a balanced diet.
