Skip to main content
Evidence-Based Supplement Research
Evidence-Based Supplement Research
Pillser
Search
Sign UpLog In

Can Saccharomyces boulardii prevent antibiotic-associated diarrhea?

The user asks whether Saccharomyces boulardii is effective for preventing diarrhea while taking antibiotics. The assistant summarizes research evidence, noting low-strength support from RCTs, a typical dose of 500 mg twice daily, mixed results, and safety considerations such as taking it apart from antibiotics and caution in immunocompromised individuals.

  • Is Saccharomyces boulardii effective for preventing diarrhea while taking antibiotics?

  • Saccharomyces boulardii for Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea

    Saccharomyces boulardii is a probiotic yeast that has been studied for its potential to prevent diarrhea associated with antibiotic use. Here's a summary of the evidence:

    What the Research Shows

    According to Pillser's research database, Saccharomyces boulardii has been investigated for reducing diarrhea in clinical populations, including patients undergoing antibiotic-containing regimens (such as H. pylori eradication therapy)1.

    • Evidence strength: Low (based on 3 randomized controlled trials)1
    • Predominant effect: Small beneficial effect — 1 out of 3 RCTs showed a statistically significant benefit, while 2 showed neutral (non-significant) results1
    • Effective dose studied: 500 mg twice daily1

    Key Study Findings

    • In a 2024 RCT of 404 patients undergoing H. pylori eradication (which involves multiple antibiotics), S. boulardii reduced the frequency of treatment-associated diarrhea (p = 0.032) in the 14-day regimen, though this result lost significance after correction for multiple comparisons2.
    • A 2023 pilot study in patients with diarrhea-predominant IBS found that the proportion of patients with diarrhea was lower in the S. boulardii group (25.9%) compared to the control group (47.6%)3.

    Bottom Line

    Saccharomyces boulardii shows some promise for reducing antibiotic-associated diarrhea, but the evidence base is still small and results are mixed. The typical studied dose is 500 mg twice daily. It is generally considered safe and is commonly used alongside antibiotics because, as a yeast, it is not affected by antibacterial antibiotics (unlike bacterial probiotics).

    Important Considerations

    • Always consult your healthcare provider before taking any supplement alongside prescribed medications.
    • S. boulardii should be taken at least a few hours apart from your antibiotic dose for best results.
    • While generally safe, it should be used with caution in immunocompromised individuals.

    Footnotes

    1. Pillser research database, Saccharomyces boulardii and Reduced Diarrhea. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

    2. "Randomised clinical trial: efficacy and safety of H. pylori eradication treatment with and without Saccharomyces boulardii supplementation" (2024), Pillser. ↩

    3. "Impact of Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745 on Bacterial Overgrowth and Composition of Intestinal Microbiota in Diarrhea-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome Patients" (2023), Pillser. ↩

New Topic

Browse Related Questions

Back to top