Saccharomyces Boulardii-the Yeast Probiotic

Probiotic Yeast with Health Benefits for the Gut Flora

Dec 16, 2008 Melissa Peterson

Saccharomyces boulardii is a yeast probiotic with different properties to probiotic bacteria. With numerous health benefits, it is an ideal home and traveling companion.

Saccharomyces boulardii is a yeast, which is the subject of over 240 peer reviewed published papers. It is a biotherapeutic agent, used primarily for antagonism against pathogens (disease causing microorganisms). Most would think of it as a probiotic supplement, and rightly so according to a recent review (2007) by D Czerucka et al. ‘Review Article: Yeast as Probiotics’.

Often yeasts are pathogenic (disease causing). Although they only make up 0.1% of the gut flora they are 10 times larger than bacteria and can cause imbalances in the bacterial levels. Saccharomyces, however, is non-pathogenic with no relationship to that well-known yeast—Candida albicans. Saccharomyces actually has an antagonistic effect on candida infections.

Yeast Probiotic versus Bacteria Probiotic

Saccharomyces is not part of the naturally occurring gut flora like some bacterial probiotics. Saccharomyces is resistant to stomach acids, bile and pancreatic juices, as it is can tolerate varying pH levels, so its survival through the gut is greater than that of bacteria probiotics. There are also no concerns with the impact of antibiotics on saccharomyces as there are with probiotic bacteria. Yeasts are naturally resistant to antibiotics and are completely safe when taken during antibiotic treatment. Additionally, unlike some bacteria probiotics, saccharomyces does not colonise the intestine; it is a transient. After 3 days of supplementation, it will reach a maximum steady state. As soon as supplementation stops, the body excretes it via the feces.

The Properties of Saccharomyces Boulardii

While travelling through the intestinal environment saccharomyces functions by:

Having antibacterial toxin effects
Being antimicrobial
Favouring the growth of probiotic bacteria
Increasing the levels of important immune substances (such as secretory IgA)
Having a beneficial growth effect on intestinal cells
Increasing levels of naturally formed digestive enzymes (sucrose, lactase, and maltase)
Increasing levels of short chain fatty acids necessary for intestinal health
Reducing substances that increase digestive inflammation

The Health Benefits of Saccharomyces Boulardii

Saccharomyces has been studied in numerous conditions. It is beneficial for treating antibiotic-associated diarrhoea, infectious diarrhoea, such as traveller’s diarrhoea and acute diarrhoea in children, AIDS, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It may also be effective for food allergies, candida infection, and parasitic infections.

Saccharomyces is useful in treating diarrhoea because it can adversely affect the pathogenic organisms, Clostridium difficile, Escherichia coli, Shigellae, and Salmonella. In fact, Saccharomyces is the only probiotic to have proven efficacy in Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea relapses.

Saccharomyces boulardii is an ideal traveling companion, in case of traveller’s diarrhoea, because it does not need refrigeration.

Safety of Saccharomyces Boulardii

Saccharomyces boulardii is a member of the same genus as Brewer’s yeast; however, they are genetically, metabolically and physiologically different. Do not take saccharomyces if you a have true IgE (Immunoglobulin E- antibody) mediated allergy to yeast. Overall saccharomyces is safe and well tolerated.

References:

Czerucka, D., Piche, T., & Rampal, P. (2007). Review article: yeast as probiotics -- Saccharomyces boulardii. Aliment Pharmacol Ther, 26(6), 767-778.

Dial J et al. MicroMedex. (2003). Saccharomyces boulardii. [monograph on line] Cited 08, 2008, From: micromedexcdc.hcn.net.au

Girard-Pipau, F., Pompei, A., Scneider, S., Nano, J. L., Hebuterne, X., Boquet, P., et al. (2002). Intestinal microflora, short chain and cellular fatty acids, influence of a probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii. Microbial Ecology 14, 220-227.

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. 2008. Saccharomyces boulardii [monograph online] cited 2008; From: naturaldatabase.com

The copyright of the article Saccharomyces Boulardii-the Yeast Probiotic in Nutrition is owned by Melissa Peterson. Permission to republish Saccharomyces Boulardii-the Yeast Probiotic in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Saccharomyces Combats Clostridium Difficile