Not all probiotics are equal! A prime example of this is Saccharomyces boulardii (S. boulardii). Some consider it a beneficial probiotic. This specific strain may support gastrointestinal (GI) health. It's resistant to antibiotics, may help manage microbial balance, and can support immune response, among other potential health benefits. With so many probiotics on the market right now, S. boulardii stands out because of its unique properties and potential positive impact on health. After reading this article, you may be as interested in this probiotic as I am and discover how it might be helpful in supporting your health journey.
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What is Saccharomyces Boulardii?
Before discussing what S. boulardii is, let's discuss what a probiotic is so you understand how this fits into this category of beneficial microorganisms for supporting health.
Probiotics are considered beneficial microorganisms that can support your gut and overall health. Our body is made of trillions of microorganisms. In fact, we are made up of more microorganisms than human cells as they outnumber human cells by a 10 to 1 ratio. This microorganism makeup is considered the microbiome. Probiotics can assist in maintaining a healthy balance of beneficial and harmful microbes in the microbiome, which can help support optimal health.
S. boulardii is a type of probiotic strain. It comes from a non-pathogenic yeast and was derived from fruits such as the mangosteen. This probiotic has properties that bacterial probiotics don't generally have. These properties include antibiotic protection and being able to reach areas of the GI tract that other probiotics can't get to. Besides these unique properties, S. boulardii also offers many other potential health benefits discussed in the next section.
What Are The Potential Health Benefits of Saccharomyces Boulardii?
As previously mentioned, S. boulardii has several potential health benefits, making it an important supportive agent for us. It is shown to have microbial management effects, support the immune system, and may help with digestive health. It may also help manage inflammation and reach places in our digestive tract that other probiotics can't reach.
S. boulardii has been indicated to help manage microbial balance by inhibiting the growth of certain bacteria and supporting the body's defense against pathogens. This strain of yeast can also support the immune system by increasing the SIgA (secretory IgA) in our gut, which, as an immunoglobulin, is responsible for the first line of defense in the GI tract. It can also trigger immune cells such as T cells, monocytes, lymphocytes, and granulocytes. It has been used to support digestive health in various conditions. In regard to managing inflammation, it may help balance pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses in the body.
This probiotic can survive gastric acid and does best in human body temperature so it can get to its target organ. It's also antibiotic-resistant, making it a potentially useful tool when used alongside antibiotics. Another exciting property is that it can interact with our normal microbiota and send signals to support balance.
What Causes Low Saccharomyces Boulardii?
Since S. boulardii is part of our microbiome and is found naturally in our digestive tract, dysbiosis can disrupt the balance and decrease this helpful microorganism. Dysbiosis occurs when there is an imbalance of the microbes in our microbiome, where the pathogenic microbes overgrow and disrupt this balance, affecting our gut and overall health. Dysbiosis can occur from a combination of lifestyle and biological factors such as a poor-quality diet, infections, chronic antibiotic or antacid use, elevated stress levels, alcohol consumption, inadequate sleep, smoking, and poor dental hygiene.
How to Test for Saccharomyces Boulardii Levels
Currently, the only test that can assess for levels of S. boulardii is through a comprehensive stool test.
How to Support Saccharomyces Boulardii Levels With Nutrition
S. boulardii can be found in a variety of foods. It was first discovered in the fruits mangosteen and lychees. S. boulardii is also in fermented products such as kombucha. Besides having potential health benefits, this yeast can also enhance fermented products by increasing phytochemicals, antioxidant capacity, and bioavailability of nutrients such as folate and B vitamins. This probiotic can also be found in dairy products such as yogurt, kefir, and various cheeses. Probiotic actions through dairy are believed to be derived from its ability to produce organic acids, vitamins, and essential enzymes.
Supplements That Support Saccharomyces Boulardii Levels
S. boulardii has two different forms of supplements. They can be heat-dried or lyophilized. If you buy an S. boulardii supplement that is heat-dried, ensure that it is refrigerated to prevent loss of potency. Lyophilized forms of S. boulardii, on the other hand, are stable at room temperature and may be better for surpassing stomach acid and getting to target organs.
Here are some considerations for S. boulardii supplementation for various digestive health support:
For digestive support, some suggest taking 500-750 mg with concurrent therapy for eight to ten days.
For H. Pylori support, some suggest taking 1000 mg with concurrent therapy for two weeks.
For IBD support, some suggest taking 750-1000 mg with concurrent therapy for seven weeks to six months.
For IBS support, some suggest taking 500 mg for four weeks.
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Summary
We are made up of trillions of microorganisms. Maintaining a healthy balance of these microbes is essential for our overall health and function. Probiotics can benefit human health by helping to keep this balance in the microbiome. S. boulardii is one of the probiotics that may support the microbiome because it can signal our healthy microbes to rapidly re-establish and, at the same time, help manage the growth of less beneficial microbes, supporting balance in the microbiome. Due to its unique probiotic qualities and many of its other potential health benefits, S. boulardii could be a consideration as part of your gut health journey to positively impact body function and support your health. As always, discuss this supplement or any other interventions with your doctor before incorporating it into your health plan.
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