Saccharomyces boulardii, the probiotic of choice
Saccharomyces boulardii is a yeast that resists well in acid habitat and to antibiotics, remaining intact and viable throughout the gastrointestinal tract, during which interacts with the microflora and the intestinal mucosa.
Saccharomyces boulardii protects against enteric pathogens, it modulates the immune response, it reduces inflammation and fluid and electrolyte secretion, it inhibits bacterial toxins and improves the function of the intestinal membrane.
In 2008, the Guidelines of ESPGHAN (European Society of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Pediatric) suggests the use of probiotic strains with proven efficacy1; in April 2014, the ESPGHAN Working Group recommends the use of Saccharomyces boulardii in the treatment of acute gastroenteritis in children strongly2.
Scientific evidence shows that S. boulardii is significantly more effective when administered within 48 hours of symptom onset.
Saccharomyces boulardii is one of the probiotics that have a very extensive literature attesting to their effectiveness to prevent:
- Diarrhoea associated with antibiotic therapy 3
- Clostridium difficile’s Diarrhea in hospitals 4
- Traveler’s Diarrhea
- Inflammatory bowel disorders
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Bibliography:
- Guarino et al. Evidence based guideline for the Management of acute gastroenteritis in children in Europe, JPGN 2008; 46:581-5122
- Szajewska, Guarino et al. On Behalf of the ESPGHAN Working group for Probiotic and Prebiotic. Use of Probiotics for the Management of acute gastroenteritis: a position paper by the ESPGHAN Working group for Probiotic and Prebiotic. JPGN 2014; 58: 531-539
- Kotowska et al. Saccharomyces boulardii in the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea in children: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2005;21: 583-590
- Surawicz et al. The search for a better treatment for recurrent Clostridium difficile disease: use of high-dose vancomycin combined with Saccharomyces boulardii. Clin Infect Dis. 2000; 31: 1012-7
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