Big effect
A probiotic slashed C. diff recurrence to 1.7% versus 13.1% when added to standard antibiotics — but the benefit was limited to mild-to-moderate cases and several other outcomes (diarrhea, gut microbiome, functional ability) showed no improvement.
This is an unusually large effect from a single, well-controlled trial, but it's one of the first studies on this specific combination, so the finding needs replication before you can count on it.
In a double-blind trial, people with mild-to-moderate C. diff infection who took 1000 mg of Saccharomyces boulardii alongside the antibiotic vancomycin had far fewer repeat infections than those on vancomycin alone — 1.7% versus 13.1%. However, the probiotic didn't improve other measures like diarrhea severity, gut microbiome health, or overall functional ability, and the study only looked at a narrow clinical population, so the results may not apply to everyone.
Where this fits in the evidence
This is among the first studies we've indexed on saccharomyces boulardii for Reduced Recurrence Rate — treat it as an early signal until more research accumulates.
The study
- Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
- 2025-06-02
- Scientific reports
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.