Big effect
A meta-analysis of 10 Chinese pediatric trials found that Saccharomyces boulardii shortened diarrhea by about 1.6 days — in children already receiving standard care.
This is an unusually large effect for a probiotic in acute diarrhea, but it comes from studies in a specific clinical population (hospitalized children in China), and the underlying trials don't appear to have been blinded — so the real-world benefit for adults or for milder cases could be smaller.
Analyzing 10 randomized trials involving 1,125 children with acute gastroenteritis, researchers found that adding Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745 to standard treatment cut diarrhea duration by roughly 1.6 days on average. The yeast also improved treatment response and cure rates while lowering a marker of inflammation (TNF-alpha). However, the included studies were conducted entirely in Chinese clinical settings without reported blinding, which limits how broadly the results apply.
Where this fits in the evidence
This is among the first studies we've indexed on Saccharomyces boulardii for Reduced Duration of Diarrhea — treat it as an early signal until more research accumulates.
The study
- Meta-Analysis
- n = 1,125
- 2025-06-04
- Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology
This is a plain-language summary of a research finding, not medical advice. Pillser surfaces research signals to help you decide what's worth investigating — always consult a qualified professional before changing what you take.