Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Improved Intestinal Barrier Function

Research synthesisLow evidenceModerate effect3 studies · 3 beneficial · 0 neutral · 0 harmful

Across 3 studies (all animal or cell-based), supplementation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast hydrolysate or in fermented products) consistently showed beneficial effects on intestinal barrier function, with predominantly moderate effect sizes. Two of the three studies reported statistically significant improvements. No human trials were identified, and study durations and doses were not consistently reported.

Studied populations: broiler chickens, aging mouse model, Caco-2 intestinal epithelial cell line

Caveats: 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). Evidence base is small (only 3 studies) — conclusions should be considered preliminary. All studies are non-human (animal or in vitro); applicability to human intestinal barrier function is uncertain.

Generated May 12, 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.