Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Improved Intestinal Barrier Function

Research synthesisLow evidenceMixed effect size3 studies · 3 beneficial · 0 neutral · 0 harmful

Across 3 studies, all reported beneficial effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae-based interventions on intestinal barrier function, with effect sizes ranging from moderate to large, and 2 of 3 findings were statistically significant. Most often assessed in animal models (broilers, aging mice) and in vitro cell systems, with no consistent dose or duration data extracted across studies.

Studied populations: broiler chickens, D-galactose-induced aging mouse model, LPS-stimulated Caco-2 cell line

Caveats: Evidence base is small (only 3 studies) — conclusions should be considered preliminary. All studies are in non-human populations (animals or cell lines); relevance to human intestinal barrier function is uncertain. Available evidence is overwhelmingly positive — clinical literature in this area is subject to publication bias (null-result studies are less likely to be published or indexed). Two of three studies lacked evidence scores and comprehensive methodological reporting.

Generated Jun 11, 2026

5 of 5 papers

Effects of yeast hydrolysate supplementation on intestinal morphology, barrier, and anti-inflammatory functions of broilers.
- 2022-06-01
- RCT · n = 320
- Animal bioscience 35(6)
- - Ting Wang
  - Kang Cheng
  - QiMing Li
  - Tian Wang
- PubMed: 34991218
- DOI: 10.5713/ab.21.0374
4 Insights on
- Improved Intestinal Barrier Function
- High evidence
dietary YH supplementation linearly and quadratically decreased serum diamine oxidase activity... Whereas the jejunal villus height (VH), VH/CD, IL-10 concentration as well as zonula occludens-1 and IL-10 gene expression levels were linearly and/or quadratically increased by YH supplementation
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Significant
Yes
Lychee Fermented by Mixed Probiotic Strains Alleviates D-Galactose-Induced Skeletal Muscle and Intestinal Aging in Mice.
- 2025-10-29
- Foods (Basel, Switzerland) 14(21)
- - Huixian Han
  - Jin Tao
  - Xiaoyue Bai
  - Yizhi Jing
  - Zhengyuan Zhai
  - Junjie Luo
  - Wanxiang Zhang
  - Dan Gan
  - Yanling Hao
- PubMed: 41227656
- DOI: 10.3390/foods14213684
7 Insights on
- Improved Intestinal Barrier Function
- Low evidence
intervention with LF ameliorated the colonic tissue damage, preserved goblet cell populations and promoted MUC2-mediated mucus secretion, which was further confirmed by the upregulation of intestinal barrier-related proteins MUC2, ZO-1, Claudin-1, and Occludin
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Large
Dietary Saccharomyces cerevisiae improves intestinal flora structure and barrier function of Pekin ducks.
- 2023-01
- RCT · n = 180
- Poultry science 102(1)
- - Wenwen Gao
  - Keying An
  - Peng Li
  - Lei Li
  - Zhaofei Xia
- PubMed: 36436368
- DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2022.101940
3 Insights on
- Improved Intestinal Barrier Function
- Low evidence
- Animal Study
600 mg/kg SC supplemented, the mRNA levels of villin, claudin3, and MUC 2 in d21 were up-regulated, as well as the mRNA levels of villin, claudin3, occludin, i-FABP, ZO-1, and MUC 2 in d42.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Fermentation Supernatants of Pleurotus eryngii Mushroom Ameliorate Intestinal Epithelial Barrier Dysfunction in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Caco-2 Cells via Upregulation of Tight Junctions.
- 2021-10-01
- Microorganisms 9(10)
- - Georgia Saxami
  - Evangelia N Kerezoudi
  - Evdokia K Mitsou
  - Georgios Koutrotsios
  - Georgios I Zervakis
  - Vasiliki Pletsa
  - Adamantini Kyriacou
- PubMed: 34683391
- DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9102071
1 Insight on
- Improved Intestinal Barrier Function
- Low evidence
FSs from <i>P. eryngii</i> mushrooms led to a significant upregulation of the TJs gene expression in pre-incubation state, indicating potential preventive action.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Significant
Yes
Yeast fermentate prebiotic improves intestinal barrier integrity during heat stress by modulation of the gut microbiota in rats.
- 2019-07-09
- Journal of applied microbiology 127(4)
- - H A G Ducray
  - L Globa
  - O Pustovyy
  - E Morrison
  - V Vodyanoy
  - I Sorokulova
- PubMed: 31230390
- DOI: 10.1111/jam.14361
2 Insights on
- Improved Intestinal Barrier Function
- Low evidence
- Animal Study
Oral treatment of rats with EH before stress significantly prevents these adverse effects by elevation of the gut beneficial bacteria, particularly butyrate-producing bacteria.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Significant
Yes

Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Improved Intestinal Barrier Function

Effects of yeast hydrolysate supplementation on intestinal morphology, barrier, and anti-inflammatory functions of broilers.

Lychee Fermented by Mixed Probiotic Strains Alleviates D-Galactose-Induced Skeletal Muscle and Intestinal Aging in Mice.

Dietary Saccharomyces cerevisiae improves intestinal flora structure and barrier function of Pekin ducks.

Fermentation Supernatants of Pleurotus eryngii Mushroom Ameliorate Intestinal Epithelial Barrier Dysfunction in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Caco-2 Cells via Upregulation of Tight Junctions.

Yeast fermentate prebiotic improves intestinal barrier integrity during heat stress by modulation of the gut microbiota in rats.