Introduction
Saccharomyces boulardii (S. boulardii) is a probiotic yeast that is a variety of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (also known as baker’s or brewer’s yeast). It has been isolated from lychee and mangosteen fruit. The probiotic activity of S. boulardii ranges from improving gut barrier function, eradicating pathogens, producing antimicrobial peptides, stimulating the immune system, and inhibiting inflammation. Specifically, S. boulardii is used for the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal tract disorders, including diarrhea symptoms. This article discusses the uses, side effects, and precautions of S. boulardii. It also covers what to look for in an S. boulardii supplement.
Dietary supplements are not regulated like drugs in the United States, meaning the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not approve them for safety and effectiveness before products are marketed. Therefore, when possible, choose a supplement that a trusted third party, such as USP, ConsumerLabs, or NSF, has tested.
However, even if supplements are third-party tested, that doesn’t mean they are necessarily safe for all or effective in general. Therefore, it is important to talk to your healthcare provider about any supplements you plan to take and check in about any potential interactions with other supplements or medications.
Uses of Saccharomyces Boulardii
Supplement use should be individualized and vetted by a healthcare professional, such as a registered dietitian, pharmacist, or healthcare provider. No supplement is intended to treat, cure, or prevent disease.
Saccharomyces boulardii is commonly used for gastrointestinal disorders such as the following:
Other uses of S. boulardii include the following:
A study of people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) used S. boulardii (9 billion colony-forming units, or CFU, per day) or a placebo for four weeks. The daily number of stools in the S. boulardii group decreased, and 87.5% of this group reported improvement in IBS symptoms compared with 72% of the placebo group. However, the sample size of the study was small.
Seek medical attention if you experience an allergic reaction to S. boulardii.
Caution should be taken if the following apply to you:
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Due to insufficient safety information on using S. boulardii when pregnant or breastfeeding, S. boulardii should be avoided.
- Children: A healthcare provider should evaluate diarrhea in children before using S. boulardii. Saccharomyces boulardii supplementation has reduced the duration and severity of diarrhea in children with acute diarrhea.
- Older adults: Due to the increased risk of fungal infection, older adults should avoid using S. boulardii.
- Digestive tract disease: S. boulardii has caused fungal infections in people with digestive tract diseases; please consult your healthcare provider before starting S. boulardii.
- Weakened immune system: S. boulardii has caused fungal infections due to catheter contamination in people with a weakened immune system. Please consult your healthcare provider before starting S. boulardii.
- Yeast allergy: Avoid S. boulardii if you have a yeast allergy.
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Dosage
Always speak with a healthcare provider before taking a supplement to ensure that the supplement and dosage are appropriate for your needs.
Listed below are the doses of S. boulardii used in clinical trials for various conditions:
- Traveler’s Diarrhea: Doses of 250, 500, or 1,000 milligrams (mg) capsules taken by mouth per day for three weeks in adults.
- Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea: Not less than 250 milligrams (5 billion CFU) but not more than 500 milligrams (10 billion CFU) in children and not more than 1,000 mg (20 billion CFU) in adults.
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome: An S. boulardii dose of 9 billion CFU taken by mouth per day was used for four weeks in adults with IBS.
- Crohn’s disease: For adults with Crohn’s disease, an S. boulardii dose of 500 milligrams (mg), two capsules taken by mouth per day for up to six months, was used in addition to maintenance therapy with mesalamine.
- Ulcerative colitis: For adults with ulcerative colitis, 250 milligrams (mg) of S. boulardii was taken by mouth three times a day for four weeks during maintenance treatment with mesalamine.
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