saccharomyces boulardii and Reduced Duration of Diarrhea

Research synthesisModerate evidenceSmall effect4 studies · 3 beneficial · 1 neutral · 0 harmful

Across 4 studies, 3 reported beneficial effects on reducing diarrhea duration, with effect sizes ranging from small to moderate. Evidence primarily comes from pediatric populations with acute diarrhea.

Studied populations: Children with acute diarrhea

Caveats: One meta-analysis found no significant benefit, contrasting with individual RCTs. Doses and forms were not consistently reported across studies.

Generated May 21, 2026

Safety in these studies

Overall tolerabilityReported
There were no adverse drug reactions in both groups.
from: Effectiveness and Safety of Saccharomyces Boulardii for the Treatment of Acute Gastroenter
Overall tolerabilityReported
L. rhamnosus GG and Saccharomyces boulardii may shorten their duration and symptoms.
from: Approach to probiotics in pediatrics: the role of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG.

4 of 4 papersPopulation:

Clinical efficacy comparison of Saccharomyces boulardii and yogurt fluid in acute non-bloody diarrhea in children: a randomized, controlled, open label study.
- 2010-03-01
- RCT · n = 55
- The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 82(3)
- - M. Eren
  - E. Dinleyici
  - Y. Vandenplas
- PubMed: 20207879
- DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2010.09-0529
2 Insights on
- Reduced Duration of Diarrhea
- High evidence
- Rigorous Journal
The duration of diarrhea was shorter with S. boulardii but the hospital stay was reduced with YF, although these differences were not significant.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Significant
Yes
Effectiveness and Safety of Saccharomyces Boulardii for the Treatment of Acute Gastroenteritis in the Pediatric Population: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
- 2022-09-20
- Meta-Analysis
- Computational and Mathematical Methods in Medicine 2022
- - H. Fu
  - Jinrong Li
  - Xunhua Xu
  - Caihuai Xia
  - Yajuan Pan
- PubMed: 36176742
- DOI: 10.1155/2022/6234858
6 Insights on
- Reduced Duration of Diarrhea
- High evidence
shorten diarrhea duration (MD = 19.70, 95% CI: -24.87, 14.52)
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Significant
No
Saccharomyces boulardii in acute childhood diarrhoea: a randomized, placebo‐controlled study
- 2007-03-22
- RCT
- Acta Paediatrica 96(4)
- - Gladys Villarruel
  - Daniel Rubio
  - F. Lopez
  - Julio Cintioni
  - Rubén Gurevech
  - G. Romero
  - Y. Vandenplas
- PubMed: 17306006
- DOI: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2007.00191.x
6 Insights on
- Reduced Duration of Diarrhea
- High evidence
- Highly Cited
A statistically significant difference was observed in the number of stools on the 4th and 7th day favouring the subgroup that received early treatment (within the first 48 h of the onset of diarrhoea).
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Significant
Yes
Dose
administered for 6 days (dose not specified in abstract)
Approach to probiotics in pediatrics: the role of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG.
- 2022-02-01
- Review
- Archivos argentinos de pediatria 120(1)
- - Christian Boggio Marzet
  - Fernando Burgos
  - Mónica Del Compare
  - Ingrid Gerold
  - Omar Tabacco
  - Gabriel Vinderola
- PubMed: 35068121
- DOI: 10.5546/aap.2022.eng.e1
5 Insights on
- Reduced Duration of Diarrhea
- Low evidence
- Children
L. rhamnosus GG and Saccharomyces boulardii may shorten their duration and symptoms.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Significant
Yes

saccharomyces boulardii and Reduced Duration of Diarrhea

Clinical efficacy comparison of Saccharomyces boulardii and yogurt fluid in acute non-bloody diarrhea in children: a randomized, controlled, open label study.

Effectiveness and Safety of Saccharomyces Boulardii for the Treatment of Acute Gastroenteritis in the Pediatric Population: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Saccharomyces boulardii in acute childhood diarrhoea: a randomized, placebo‐controlled study

Approach to probiotics in pediatrics: the role of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG.