Saccharomyces boulardii

Saccharomyces boulardii (synonym: Saccharomyces cerevisiae var boulardii and Saccharomyces cerevisiae Hansen CBS 5926 ) is a yeast related to Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It is used as a probiotic drug for the treatment of diarrhea, as well as preventative during and after antibiotic treatment. It was first in 1923 by the French mycologist Henri Boulard in Indochina isolated from the skins of lychee and mangosteen fruit.

Use as drug

The yeasts are taken orally and colonize within a few hours the gastrointestinal tract, which is favorable living conditions. Pathogens that are the cause of diarrhea often are inhibited in their growth and repressed and thus maintain or restore the natural intestinal flora. The duration of diarrhea is shortened by an average of one day. The probability, during or after taking antibiotics to suffer from diarrhea is reduced. However, the available studies have methodological flaws. Individuals with immunodeficiency or seriously ill people should not be treated with probiotic preparations, as well as opportunistic infections and septic gradients have been described.

In Germany and Austria, these drugs are not prescription, but in pharmacies.

Similar products exist with Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Criticism

One study found that Saccharomyces boulardii may have a preventive effect against EHEC. The publication, however, can be critically because it was supported by the French drug manufacturer Biocodex, offering a boulardii preparation for diarrhea (Ultra- Levure ®, in Germany as Perenterol ® in the trade). A typical problem with such studies is the publication bias.