β-1,3/1,6-glucan · SM-2001 Fermentate · Aureobasidium pullulans SM-2001
Polycan® is a patented polysaccharide complex studied in humans for joint comfort, muscle strength and bone health in adults 50+. Building on this research, we are exploring the gut as a potential hub connecting these functions, inspired by emerging research on the gut–musculoskeletal axis.
Explore a new perspective on mobility through the Gut–Mobility Axis →
Clinical evidence
Mobility depends on three systems working together: joints that move comfortably, muscle that powers movement, and bone that holds the frame. Most ingredients address one. Polycan® is studied across all three in humans — and we are exploring whether the gut is the hub that connects them.
p = 0.04 vs glucosamine alone
Greater WOMAC improvement with Polycan® 50 mg + glucosamine (1,500 mg) than with glucosamine alone, in a 12-week double-blind RCT (n=82, per-protocol).
Human RCT · Truong et al., 2019 — full text ↓
+1.40 kg right-hand grip vs placebo*
Polycan® 1 g/day with resistance exercise improved right-hand grip strength versus placebo in a 12-week double-blind RCT in adults 50+ with relatively low muscle mass (per-protocol; p = 0.024).
A separate 12-week RCT in adults aged 60–78 reported a +4.41 kg increase from baseline with Polycan® 1 g/day plus resistance exercise.
*The +1.40 kg result is an adjusted between-group difference; grip strength did not differ significantly in the intention-to-treat analysis.
Human RCT · Kim et al., 2023 ↓ · Shin et al., 2021 ↓
p = 0.008 DPD, within group
The bone-resorption marker DPD was reduced within the Polycan® group at 150 mg/day in a 12-week double-blind RCT in perimenopausal women (n=58, per-protocol).
Human RCT · Kim et al., 2011 — full text ↓
Results are from per-protocol analyses. The joint result is from a combination formula; the muscle trials included a resistance-exercise program; the bone result is within-group. Full methods and caveats on the Science page.
Mechanism · Proposed
Aging joints, muscle and bone share one hidden pressure: chronic low-grade inflammation, with the gut potentially playing an important role. Emerging research on the gut–musculoskeletal axis suggests the gut may act as a hub connecting these systems.
In animal and cell models, Polycan® supported gut-barrier integrity, increased short-chain fatty acids and reduced inflammatory signalling in gut cells. Human gut studies are in progress. These findings are not human efficacy claims.
Whether these gut-related mechanisms contribute to Polycan®'s observed musculoskeletal outcomes remains under investigation.
Preclinical findings
For formulators
Low daily doses (50 mg–1 g) fit capsules, tablets, powders and stick packs. Polycan® pairs with glucosamine, calcium and protein for multi-benefit mobility formulas.
As a non-living fermentate it is shelf-stable — no cold chain, no viability loss, consistent dosing from batch to batch. Backed by a published dossier and B2B toolkits for your marketing team.
Mechanism · Preclinical proposed pathways
The gut work comes first — fermentation, barrier, calmer gut-cell signalling. From that hub, proposed pathways reach the three mobility pillars, each with its own human dataset. These pathways are a hypothesis from preclinical models, not an established mechanism; the human results are labeled study by study.
SCFA / butyrate signalling toward the AMPK–PGC-1α mitochondrial pathway in muscle.
See the pathway →
A restored barrier means less LPS reaching joint tissue — less NF-κB drive at the source.
See the pathway →
SCFAs lower colonic pH, freeing calcium ions for uptake through TRPV6 channels.
See the pathway →The fermentate story
Polycan® is non-living by design: a defined preparation from a single proprietary strain, with human benefit data behind it. That is the shape of a postbiotic under the ISAPP consensus definition — and it supports an ingredient designed to be stable and consistent, and well suited to formulation.
The full story — the definition, how Polycan® matches it point by point, and where we are careful with the word — lives one level down.
Tell us about your product and we will send a sample, spec sheet and the clinical dossier.
Science
An SM-2001 fermentate that acts in the gut first, studied in 6 published human RCTs plus 1 completed trial. Human data and preclinical data are labeled separately — on every page, every time.
The ingredient
Polycan® is a β-1,3/1,6-glucan at 25% (80–120%), produced by fermenting the black yeast Aureobasidium pullulans SM-2001.
It is a stable, non-living fermentate — not live bacteria. No cold chain, no viability loss, consistent dosing. How it fits the definition of a postbiotic is laid out on the Postbiotic page.
Mechanism · Preclinical
Each step below comes from a separate animal or cell model. Together they describe the proposed mechanism; they are not human efficacy claims. The order shown is a working model of how the steps may connect — a proven sequence of events in humans has not been established.
Explore the full mechanism — the journey, the gut hub and the four pathways →
Total fecal SCFA increased 48%, feeding the gut lining (mouse model). Ko et al. ↓
Tight-junction proteins ZO-1, occludin and claudin-2 restored; gut permeability reduced 39% (mouse model). Do et al. ↓ Ko et al. ↓
NF-κB/MAPK pathways inhibited and IL-8 reduced by approximately 74% in human gut epithelial cells. Kim et al. ↓ Lee et al. ↓
Each value from a separate model — mouse or human gut cells. Not human outcomes.
Sources: Do et al. ↓ · Ko et al. ↓ · Kim et al. ↓ — click any reference to download the full-text paper (PDF).
Why it matters
Chronic low-grade inflammation that starts in the gut — LPS crossing a weakened barrier, NF-κB signalling staying switched on — presses on joints, muscle and bone at the same time. That shared pressure is the rationale for a gut-first mobility ingredient. Immune findings are reported in this section as exploratory mechanism signals, not clinical immune claims.
Gut-barrier support, reduced LPS leakage and Treg-related immune modulation in animal and cell models — the mechanistic layer beneath the mobility story. See the three steps above and the linked full-text papers.
In a 4-week double-blind RCT at 400 mg/day, IL-4 changed between groups (p=0.048); the primary endpoint (TNF-α) was not significant. We report this as an exploratory mechanism signal — not a clinical immune claim. Choi et al., 2009 ↓
Clinical evidence · Human
Every result carries its dose and analysis population. Click a reference to download the full-text paper (PDF).
| Area | Study | Design | Dose | Key result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joint | Truong et al., 2019 ↓ | Double-blind RCT, 12 wk, n=82 | 50 mg + glucosamine | Greater WOMAC improvement vs glucosamine alone, p=0.04 |
| Muscle | Kim et al., 2023 (Food & Function) ↓ | Double-blind RCT, 12 wk, n=80 | 1 g/day | Right grip +1.40 kg, p=0.024 (per-protocol; ITT not significant); 400 m walk −13.1 s, p=0.015 |
| Muscle | Shin et al., 2021 ↓ | RCT, 12 wk, n=45, with exercise | 1 g/day | Right grip +4.41 kg (+17.0%) from baseline in the Polycan® group, p=0.009 |
| Bone | Kim et al., 2011 ↓ | Double-blind RCT, 12 wk, n=58, perimenopausal women | 150 mg/day | DPD (bone-resorption marker) reduced within group, p=0.008 |
| Bone | Kim et al., 2015 ↓ | RCT, 4 wk, n=56 | 400 mg/day | CTx trend vs placebo (not significant); supportive only |
| Immune | Choi et al., 2009 ↓ | Double-blind RCT, 4 wk, n=56 (ITT) | 400 mg/day | IL-4 between-group p=0.048 (exploratory endpoint) |
Results are per-protocol unless noted. The joint study tested Polycan® in combination with glucosamine; there was no Polycan-only arm. Muscle studies included a resistance-exercise program. Intention-to-treat grip results in Kim 2023 were not significant. The bone between-group difference for the full cohort was a trend only. One further muscle RCT is completed and will be added after journal publication. The full library — including the preclinical evidence table — is on the Evidence page.
Auditability
We separate human data from preclinical data on every page, state every dose, and report per-protocol vs intention-to-treat. Every citation on this page links to the full-text paper, so your regulatory team can verify each number at the source.
Request a sample and we will include the spec sheet and the full clinical dossier.
Postbiotic
Polycan® leads with mobility. Underneath it sits a second story: a non-living fermentate that fits the scientific definition of a postbiotic. This page tells that story in full — what a postbiotic is, how Polycan® matches the definition, and where we stay careful with the word.
The definition
In 2021, the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) published a consensus definition: a postbiotic is a “preparation of inanimate microorganisms and/or their components that confers a health benefit on the host.”
Three ideas do the work in that definition. The material is inanimate — no living organisms. It is a defined preparation, made deliberately and characterized — not an incidental fermentation by-product. And it has been shown to confer a health benefit on the host.
Postbiotics sit alongside probiotics and prebiotics, but they are not live cultures and they are not fibres that feed resident bacteria. They are the finished, non-living output of fermentation — delivered as-is.
How Polycan® fits
Polycan® was developed as a mobility ingredient, and its clinical program came first. Measured against the 2021 consensus definition, it matches on every element:
Polycan® contains no living organisms. The β-1,3/1,6-glucan complex is recovered from fermentation and delivered as a stable, non-living preparation — there is nothing in it that needs to survive, colonize or stay viable.
It is produced by one proprietary strain — Aureobasidium pullulans SM-2001 — under controlled fermentation at Glukan’s own facility in Jinju, Korea, and released against a fixed specification: β-1,3/1,6-glucan 25% (80–120%).
The active structure — a β-1,3 main chain with β-1,6 branches — is defined and measured lot by lot, and the ingredient carries FDA GRAS status (GRN 000309) for its safety dossier.
The benefit is not inferred from the category. It rests on Polycan®’s own human program: 6 published randomized controlled trials plus 1 completed trial across joint comfort, muscle strength and bone health in adults 50+. Study-by-study results are in the Evidence library.
Why non-living matters
Stability. Nothing alive means nothing to keep alive: no cold chain, no viability loss on the shelf, no overage to compensate for die-off.
Consistency. The dose on the label is the dose in the capsule — the same characterized preparation, batch after batch.
Formulation freedom. A non-living fermentate tolerates the formats live cultures struggle with — capsules, tablets, powders, stick packs — and pairs cleanly with glucosamine, calcium and protein.
Safety profile. With no live microorganisms, there is no risk of translocation or infection — a consideration that matters for older consumers, the very people mobility formulas serve.
Our positioning
Two honest caveats. First, no regulator has yet published an official postbiotic category or standard — the ISAPP definition is a scientific consensus, not a regulatory one. Second, Polycan® was described in its earlier scientific literature as an exopolysaccharide (EPS) preparation, the term in use before the consensus existed.
That is why this site leads with Polycan® Mobility and the SM-2001 fermentate, and why the postbiotic case is made here — in full, next to the definition and the evidence — rather than as a headline claim.
Samples, the specification sheet and the scientific briefings — including Mechanism of Action as a Postbiotic — are available to partners.
Mechanism of Action
Most functional ingredients act locally — a joint ingredient on the joint, a bone ingredient on bone. Polycan® is built differently: it works in the gut first, and the signals that start there are proposed to reach muscle, joint and bone. This page walks the whole chain as a proposed model — a hypothesis, not an established mechanism — with preclinical and human data labeled separately throughout.
The hub-and-spoke model
Polycan® is a fermentation-derived SM-2001 fermentate. Its β-1,3/1,6-glucan is not broken down by human digestive enzymes, so it arrives in the colon as an intact fermentation substrate — the hub of the model.
What the gut does with it — microbial fermentation, barrier support, calmer epithelial signalling — generates the spokes: short-chain fatty acids, reduced endotoxin leakage and immune-cell modulation that circulate to the tissues mobility depends on.
Proposed pathways — preclinical basis, not established
Step 0 · Arrival
Before any pathway can start, the ingredient has to get there. The dense β-1,3/1,6 branching that defines Polycan® is also what protects it on the way down.
Polycan® β-1,3/1,6-glucan, taken at the studied daily dose for the target formula — 50 mg to 1 g depending on the concept.
Human digestive enzymes do not cleave β-1,3/1,6 linkages, so the structure transits the stomach and small intestine intact.
In the distal colon it settles into the microbiome ecosystem as a fermentation substrate for specialized microbial taxa.
Inside the hub · Preclinical
Each step is from a separate animal or cell study. Together they form the proposed mechanism — the human outcomes are on the Evidence page.
Hub step 1
Specialized taxa equipped to use complex polysaccharides — including Phocaeicola / Bacteroides, Ruminococcus / Roseburia and Bifidobacterium / Lachnospiraceae — ferment Polycan® and cross-feed the community.
Total fecal SCFA rose 48% in a high-fat-diet mouse model, with acetate, propionate and butyrate all increasing. SCFAs feed the gut lining and carry signals to the rest of the body.
Hub step 2
SCFA signalling supports the tight-junction proteins — ZO-1, occludin, claudin-2 — that seal the gaps between gut epithelial cells.
Intestinal permeability fell 39% in a mouse model, and with the barrier sealed, less LPS endotoxin crosses into circulation — removing a chronic inflammatory trigger upstream of joints, muscle and bone.
Hub step 3
In human HT-29 intestinal epithelial cells, Polycan® blocked NF-κB nuclear translocation and MAPK (ERK/JNK/p38) phosphorylation, and inflammatory IL-8 fell by approximately 74%.
The effect is cell-type specific: in RAW264.7 macrophages the same NF-κB inhibition was not observed (action there runs through HO-1/STAT1). We report that openly — precision about where a mechanism does not apply is part of the evidence.
The complete pathway
Three upstream signals leave the gut hub — SCFA levels, lowered LPS/inflammation, and immune-cell modulation — and branch to four destinations.
Four pathways
The pathway descriptions are the preclinical rationale. The validation lines are the published human results — with doses, because a claim is only as good as the dose it was studied at.
Butyrate and other SCFAs are taken up by skeletal muscle, where the proposed route runs through AMPK activation and PGC-1α phosphorylation — the mitochondrial-biogenesis pathway — supporting muscle protein balance.
Human RCT At 1 g/day with resistance exercise: right grip +4.41 kg (+17.0%) from baseline in the Polycan® group (p=0.009, Shin 2021); right grip +1.40 kg (p=0.024, per-protocol, Kim 2023). Shin ↓ · Kim ↓
Barrier restoration reduces systemic LPS leakage, which lowers the chronic NF-κB/MAPK drive reaching synovial joint tissue — addressing the inflammatory input rather than only the joint itself.
Human RCT Polycan® 50 mg + glucosamine vs glucosamine alone in knee OA (n=82): greater WOMAC improvement (p=0.04). Combination formula — no Polycan-only arm. Truong ↓
SCFAs naturally acidify the colonic lumen. Lower pH ionizes insoluble calcium salts into Ca²⁺, which can be taken up through TRPV6 epithelial channels — a gut-side contribution to calcium availability and bone turnover.
Human RCT At 150 mg/day in perimenopausal women (n=58): the bone-resorption marker DPD was reduced within the Polycan® group (p=0.008, within-group). Kim ↓
The β-1,3/1,6-glucan structure is recognized by Dectin-1 receptors in the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), while butyrate supports regulatory T-cell differentiation — together, a proposed route to Th1/Treg–Th2 balance.
Human RCT Exploratory: IL-4 changed between groups at 400 mg/day (p=0.048, Choi 2009; primary endpoint not significant). Choi ↓
Pathway artwork adapted from Glucan Global's partner mechanism briefings. Human results are per-protocol unless noted; full designs, populations and caveats are in the evidence table on the Science page and the Evidence library.
The two partner briefings behind this page — Ecosystem Ripple Effect and Mechanism of Action as a Postbiotic — are available through the Resources library.
Evidence Library
The complete evidence architecture behind Polycan®: 6 published human RCTs across four domains, the preclinical program underneath them, and the companion-animal observations — each labeled for what it is.
How to read this page
Human RCT Randomized controlled trials in people — the only basis for product claims, always quoted with dose and analysis population.
Preclinical Animal and cell studies. They explain how the ingredient may work; they are never presented as human outcomes.
Observational Feeding studies without a control arm — including all pet data. Reported as observations, not efficacy.
Where an intention-to-treat analysis differs from per-protocol, we say so. Where a primary endpoint missed, we say that too.
Human evidence by domain · Human RCT
The full study-by-study table — designs, doses, results and caveats — is on the Science page. This is the architecture at a glance.
2 published RCTs + 1 completed, in publication
1 g/day with resistance exercise. Right grip +4.41 kg (+17.0%) from baseline in the Polycan® group (p=0.009); +1.40 kg in a second RCT (p=0.024, per-protocol).
1 published RCT · n=82
50 mg + glucosamine vs glucosamine alone in knee OA. Greater WOMAC improvement (p=0.04).
2 published RCTs · n=58 + 56
150 mg/day: DPD reduced within group (p=0.008). 400 mg/day: CTx trend only — supportive, not significant.
1 published RCT · n=56
IL-4 exploratory signal (p=0.048); primary endpoint (TNF-α) was not significant.
Preclinical evidence · Preclinical
The studies behind the mechanism: gut barrier, microbiota and gut-cell signalling. None of these are human outcomes.
| Layer | Study | Model | Key result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gut barrier | Do et al. ↓ | Mouse intestinal-barrier / colitis model | Tight-junction proteins (ZO-1, occludin, claudin-2) restored; intestinal permeability −39% |
| Microbiota & SCFA | Ko et al. ↓ | High-fat-diet obese mice | Total fecal SCFA +48%; SCFA-producing taxa increased |
| Gut-cell signalling | Kim et al. ↓ | HT-29 human intestinal epithelial cells | NF-κB / MAPK signalling inhibited; IL-8 ≈ −74% |
| Gut-cell signalling | Lee et al. ↓ | HT-29 human intestinal epithelial cells | NF-κB nuclear translocation blocked; MAPK (ERK / JNK / p38) phosphorylation inhibited |
Cell-type specificity, reported openly: in RAW264.7 macrophages (Paper 040), NF-κB inhibition was not observed — the macrophage effect runs through the HO-1/STAT1 pathway instead. Mechanism claims on this site are scoped to the models that actually showed them.
Companion animals · Observational
Observational feeding studies in beagles and cats — microbiome shifts, blood IgG +5.6% (p=0.003) and serum calcium +5.5% (p=0.017) in dogs; improved microbiome diversity and stool consistency in cats. Full details, feeding rates and positioning are on the Pet page.
Every citation on this site links to the full-text paper. For the assembled dossier, request it with your sample.
Applications
Use Polycan® as the gut-health anchor of joint, muscle, bone or all-in-one mobility formulas — at the doses studied in humans.
Formulation map
Claims must match the dose in your finished product. We will review your label copy against our clinical dossier on request.
| Formula concept | Studied daily dose | Pair with | Positioning (structure/function) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compact Joint Formula — pill-fatigue free | 50 mg + glucosamine 750 mg | Glucosamine at half the usual 1,500 mg dose | Supports joint comfort and mobility. In the RCT, cutting glucosamine from 1,500 mg to 750 mg and adding Polycan® 50 mg produced a better joint improvement rate than glucosamine 1,500 mg alone — the same benefit in a smaller daily pill load |
| Muscle strength (50+) | 1 g | Protein, creatine, vitamin D; label with activity guidance | Supports muscle strength alongside regular exercise |
| Dual-Action Bone Matrix — calcium + bioavailability booster | 150 mg | Calcium, vitamin D, K2 | Supports healthy bone turnover. The synergy concept: much of the calcium in a formula is excreted unabsorbed — SCFAs from Polycan® fermentation lower colonic pH, ionizing calcium salts for uptake through the gut (preclinical pathway), so the calcium you already include works harder |
| Mobility All-in-One (gut-first) | 150–200 mg or 1,000 mg | Any of the above; claims follow the dose used | Supports gut health as part of an active, mobile lifestyle — two ready-to-build tracks below |
Option A · Smart Daily
One capsule or shot a day that covers the studied joint dose (50 mg) and bone dose (150 mg) at the same time, with gut-barrier care built in. The efficient everyday mobility formula for the 50+ daily routine.
Option B · Premium Active
Covers joint and bone — and adds the 1 g/day dose studied for grip strength and muscle in older adults. Built for high-function formats: protein powders and mobility ampoules for active agers.
Formulator advantages
Non-living ingredient — no cold chain, shelf-stable through your product's life.
50–150 mg covers joint and bone concepts — room in the capsule for the rest of your formula.
Single strain SM-2001, fermentation-derived, one defined active: β-1,3/1,6-glucan 25% (80–120%).
Toolkits, claim guidance and a published dossier your team can build campaigns on.
Technical data
The handling facts formulators ask about most, from the current product specification.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Dark brown powder; mild, characteristic odor and taste |
| β-1,3/1,6-glucan | 25% (80–120%), Megazyme kit |
| pH (1% solution) | 3.0 – 7.0 |
| Moisture | < 8.0% |
| Shelf life | 36 months from date of manufacture |
| Storage | Store in a dry place at room temperature in the original sealed container; after opening, use immediately |
| Pack size | 5 kg — LLDPE bag in a cardboard shipper |
| Country of origin | Republic of Korea |
From the Polycan® PN-101 product specification (2026); the same parameters are reported on each lot's Certificate of Analysis. Solubility, heat-stability and pH-stability data for your specific process are in the technical dossier — request it with your sample.
Delivery formats
Companion animals
The same ingredient is used in dog and cat supplements — backed by observational studies in beagles and cats, in formats that suit kibble coatings, chews and powders.
Tell us the concept and target dose — we will map it to the studied evidence and send samples.
Companion animals
Polycan® brings a human-grade, clinically studied ingredient to companion-animal gut and immune support.
For pet brands
The same ingredient studied in 6 published human RCTs — a story pet parents can verify.
GRN 000309 human-grade ingredient with a recognized safety record.
Changes in gut bacteria observed in both dogs and cats in feeding studies.
Non-living fermentate format: stable in kibble coatings, chews and powders — no live-culture losses.
Observations · Observational
These are observational feeding studies, not controlled trials. Human study results are not presented as pet efficacy claims.
n=8, crossover, 1,000 mg/day, 8 weeks — Sampath et al., 2026 ↓
Feeding observations in cats on Polycan®-containing diets.
Pet data are observational. Full study details are in the Pet Dossier, available on request.
Positioning
Study details, feeding rates and formulation guidance for dog and cat products.
Quality & Regulatory
GRAS in the US, with individual functional-ingredient recognition in Korea planned for 2027, produced from a single proprietary strain.
Regulatory status
| Market | Status |
|---|---|
| United States | FDA GRAS notice GRN 000309 (no-questions letter) |
| South Korea | MFDS individual functional-ingredient recognition planned for 2027 |
| Other markets | Regulatory support for partner registrations on request |
Certifications
Every lot is produced at Glukan's own plant in Jinju, Korea, under internationally recognized food-safety and dietary certifications.
Food Safety System Certification 22000 — the GFSI-recognized food-safety management scheme. Held by the Jinju plant since 2018.
Korea Muslim Federation Halal certification, held since 2014 — supporting supply into Halal markets alongside the ingredient's other regional registrations.
Certificates are available to partners on request.
Manufacturing
Aureobasidium pullulans SM-2001 — a single proprietary black-yeast strain, held and controlled by Glukan in Korea.
Controlled fermentation; no chemical modification. The glucan is produced by the organism, then recovered as a stable SM-2001 fermentate ingredient.
Active: β-1,3/1,6-glucan 25% (80–120%). Every lot is released against the specification sheet and Certificate of Analysis.
Available on request under NDA: specification sheet, Certificate of Analysis, allergen and GMO statements.
Trademark
Registered for use in dietary supplements. Brand partners receive usage guidance with the ingredient supply agreement.
Full specification, a recent Certificate of Analysis and regulatory documentation for your market.
Resources
Download the materials your R&D and marketing teams need. Enter your work email to unlock.
Tell us who you are and we will send the files to your work email. Unpublished and partner-only materials — including the completed muscle-trial CSR and the Lim et al., 2018 dossier (Paper 049) — are available to qualified partners on request only.
We reply from the Glucan Global team. Your details are used only to fulfil your request.
Download library
The clinical evidence summary: three pillars, doses, p-values and the caveats your regulatory team will ask about.
The four-step gut mechanism with the preclinical data behind each step, clearly labeled as preclinical.
The illustrated mechanism deck behind the Mechanism page: from receptors to clinical results — the gut hub, the SCFA surge, the barrier data and the four pathways.
The step-by-step scientific briefing: digestive resistance, precision fermentation, tight-junction restoration and the domain-by-domain pathway evidence.
Dog and cat observational data, feeding rates and suggested positioning for companion-animal brands.
Formula concepts by pillar, pairing guidance and claim language mapped to studied doses. Available to partners on request.
Full specification (β-1,3/1,6-glucan 25%, 80–120%), a recent Certificate of Analysis, allergen and GMO statements.
Every study cited on this site links to its full text. Start from the evidence table on the Science page.
Tell us what your team is evaluating and we will assemble the right document set.
About
Polycan-focused: one ingredient, one strain, a published evidence base — and a supply team in Houston for the Americas.
Who we are
Polycan® is developed by Glukan in Korea from its proprietary Aureobasidium pullulans SM-2001 strain and supplied to the Americas by Glucan Global Corporation, based in Houston, Texas.
Research on the ingredient spans 40+ published studies, including 6 human RCTs. Our job is simple: help brands build products on evidence they can stand behind.
The maker — Glukan
Polycan® is developed and produced by Glukan Co., Ltd., a Korean fermentation company founded in 2001, built around its proprietary black yeast, Aureobasidium pullulans. Manufacturing runs at Glukan's own plant in Jinju, Korea, certified to FSSC 22000.
From Nature, With Nature.
Glukan's founding philosophy: the wisdom for growing a company comes from nature itself — living in symbiosis, and growing in harmony. On that belief, Glukan develops and produces natural functional ingredients, contributing to human health and the protection of the environment.
The underlying technology is protected by patents in Korea, the United States (US 7,671,039 B2) and Japan.
Glukan Co., Ltd. incorporated in Korea (December 2001).
Black-yeast culture successfully scaled to commercial production.
Company research institute founded; the Aureobasidium strain and its production method established. ISO 9001 certification followed in 2005.
Polycan passes US FDA safety testing; Glukan certified as an INNO-BIZ technology-innovative company.
Black Yeast β-Glucan (Polycan) listed as GRAS in the United States.
Glukan establishes its own production plant in Munsan-eup, Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do; KMF Halal certification the same year.
The Jinju plant certified to FSSC 22000.
Individual functional-ingredient recognition by Korea's MFDS is planned for 2027.
Jinju plant, Korea
Every lot of Polycan® runs through the same controlled line at Glukan's Jinju plant — fermentation, extraction, sterilization, blending and drying under one roof.
Photos: Glukan production facility, Jinju, Korea.
Your contact
Head of International Sales & Marketing
Polycan® | Glucan Global Corporation
wonho@polycanmobility.com · Houston, Texas, USA
Start with a sample and the clinical dossier — we reply within one business day.
Contact
Tell us about your project. We reply within one business day with a sample, spec sheet and the clinical dossier.
Head of International Sales & Marketing
Polycan® | Glucan Global Corporation
wonho@polycanmobility.com
www.polycanmobility.com · Houston, Texas, USA
