Archive for category S. boulardii
Ali Pharm Ther ’05: Randomized trial reports reduction of risk of AAD with S. boulardii in children
Posted by library in Diarrhea/AAD, Infant & Child Health, S. boulardii on May 24, 2011
Kotowska, M. et al. Saccharomyces boulardii in the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea in children: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2005; 21(5):583-590.
BACKGROUND:
Co-treatment with Saccharomyces boulardii appears to lower the risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea in adults receiving broad-spectrum antibiotics.
AIM:
To determine whether S. boulardii prevents antibiotic-associated diarrhoea in children.
METHODS:
A total of 269 children (aged 6 months to 14 years) with otitis media and/or respiratory tract infections were enrolled in a double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial in which they received standard antibiotic treatment plus 250 mg of S. boulardii (experimental group, n = 132) or a placebo (control group, n = 137) orally twice daily for the duration of antibiotic treatment. Analyses were based on allocated treatment and included data from 246 children.
RESULTS:
Patients receiving S. boulardii had a lower prevalence of diarrhoea (> or =3 loose or watery stools/day for > or =48 h occurring during or up to 2 weeks after the antibiotic therapy) than those receiving placebo [nine of 119 (8%) vs. 29 of 127 (23%), relative risk: 0.3, 95% confidence interval: 0.2-0.7]. S. boulardii also reduced the risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea (diarrhoea caused by Clostridium difficile or otherwise unexplained diarrhoea) compared with placebo [four of 119 (3.4%) vs. 22 of 127 (17.3%), relative risk: 0.2; 95% confidence interval: 0.07-0.5]. No adverse events were observed.
CONCLUSION:
This is the first randomized-controlled trial evidence that S. boulardii effectively reduces the risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea in children.
PMID: 15740542
BMJ ’02: Meta-analysis reports probiotics useful in preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea
Posted by library in Diarrhea/AAD, S. boulardii on May 24, 2011
D’Souza AL, et al. Probiotics in prevention of antibiotic associated diarrhoea: meta-analysis. BMJ 2002;324(7350):1361. Review.
OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate efficacy of probiotics in prevention and treatment of diarrhoea associated with the use of antibiotics.
DESIGN:
Meta-analysis; outcome data (proportion of patients not getting diarrhoea) were analysed, pooled, and compared to determine odds ratios in treated and control groups.
IDENTIFICATION:
Studies identified by searching Medline between 1966 and 2000 and the Cochrane Library. Studies reviewed nine randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trials of probiotics.
RESULTS:
Two of the nine studies investigated the effects of probiotics in children. Four trials used a yeast (Saccharomyces boulardii), four used lactobacilli, and one used a strain of enterococcus that produced lactic acid. Three trials used a combination of probiotic strains of bacteria. In all nine trials, the probiotics were given in combination with antibiotics and the control groups received placebo and antibiotics. The odds ratio in favour of active treatment over placebo in preventing diarrhoea associated with antibiotics was 0.39 (95% confidence interval 0.25 to 0.62; P<0.001) for the yeast and 0.34 (0.19 to 0.61; P<0.01 for lactobacilli. The combined odds ratio was 0.37 (0.26 to 0.53; P<0.001) in favour of active treatment over placebo.
CONCLUSIONS:
The meta-analysis suggests that probiotics can be used to prevent antibiotic associated diarrhoea and that S boulardii and lactobacilli have the potential to be used in this situation. The efficacy of probiotics in treating antibiotic associated diarrhoea remains to be proved. A further large trial in which probiotics are used as preventive agents should look at the costs of and need for routine use of these agents.
PMID: 12052801
I J Immuno ’86: Early report of human benefits on immunity with S. boulardii supplementation
Posted by library in General Reference, Immune Health, S. boulardii on August 13, 2010
Caetano JA, Parames, MT, et al. Immunopharmacological effects of Saccharomyces boulardii in healthy human volunteers. Int J Immunopharmacol, 1986; 8:245-259
Investigation of oral administration of Saccharomyces boulardii in healthy volunteers demonstrates several cellular and humoral changes in peripheral blood.
Among its effects are the increase of erythrocytes, leucocytes, polymorphs, neutrophils, complement components C3, C5, C3d, serum anticomplementary activity and leucocyte chemokinesis, specially when autologous serum and antigen have been added to the culture medium and decrease of complement haemolytic activity (CH50, classic and alternative pathways).
We have also demonstrated that in vitro S. boulardii was able to activate complement directly, to fix C3b to its surface and that its phagocytosis by mononuclear cells was complement-dependent. The overall changes in serum proteins suggested changes of acute phase proteins typical of an inflammatory process. Furthermore S. boulardii had no mitogenic response of lymphocyte populations.
Our results demonstrated that S. boulardii activates the reticuloendothelial system and complement system and suggest that S. boulardii merits therapeutic trial in a variety of clinical situations.
Clin Exp Imm ’09: Reduction in inflammatory markers with S. boulardii measured in vitro
Posted by library in S. boulardii on August 13, 2010
Thomas S, Przesdzing I, et al. Saccharomyces boulardii inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced activation of human dendritic cells and T cell proliferation. Clin Exp Immunol, 2009; 156:78-87
Saccharomyces boulardii (Sb) is a probiotic yeast preparation that has demonstrated efficacy in inflammatory and infectious disorders of the gastrointestinal tract in controlled clinical trials.
Although patients clearly benefit from treatment with Sb, little is known on how Sb unfolds its anti-inflammatory properties in humans. Dendritic cells (DC) balance tolerance and immunity and are involved critically in the control of T cell activation. Thus, they are believed to have a pivotal role in the initiation and perpetuation of chronic inflammatory disorders, not only in the gut.
We therefore decided to investigate if Sb modulates DC function. Culture of primary (native, non-monocyte-derived) human myeloid CD1c+CD11c+CD123(-) DC (mDC) in the presence of Sb culture supernatant (active component molecular weight < 3 kDa, as evaluated by membrane partition chromatography) reduced significantly expression of the co-stimulatory molecules CD40 and CD80 (P < 0.01) and the DC mobilization marker CC-chemokine receptor CCR7 (CD197) (P < 0.001) induced by the prototypical microbial antigen lipopolysaccharide (LPS).
Moreover, secretion of key proinflammatory cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin (IL)-6 were notably reduced, while the secretion of anti-inflammatory IL-10 increased. Finally, Sb supernatant inhibited the proliferation of naive T cells in a mixed lymphocyte reaction with mDC.
In summary, our data suggest that Sb may exhibit part of its anti-inflammatory potential through modulation of DC phenotype, function and migration by inhibition of their immune response to bacterial microbial surrogate antigens such as LPS.
ZG ’93: Bowel benefits (on diarrhea) measured in Crohn’s disease patients when supplemented with S. boulardii
Posted by library in Intestinal Health, S. boulardii on August 13, 2010
Plein K, Hotz J. Therapeutic effects of Saccharomyces boulardii on mild residual symptoms in a stable phase of Crohn’s disease with special respect to chronic diarrhea-a pilot study. Z Gastroenterol, 1993; 31:129-134
In a randomized, single-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study, 20 patients with established Crohn’s disease suffering from diarrhea and moderate complaints as measured by the BEST Index, were treated with the yeast preparation Saccharomyces boulardii (S.b.) in a dosage of 250 mg t.i.d., initially for two weeks in addition to the basic treatment. A reduction in the frequency of bowel movements (5.0 +/- 1.4 vs. 4.1 +/- 2.3 evacuations/day, p < 0.01) and in the BEST Index (193 +/- 32 vs. 168 +/- 59, p < 0.05) as compared to baseline was registered.
After this initial phase, the patients were allocated in randomized order to the control group (n = 7) receiving placebo, or to the verum group (n = 10) receiving S.b.(250 mg t.i.d.) for 7 weeks, while the basic treatment was maintained.
The group treated with S.b. showed a significant reduction in the frequency of bowel movements in the tenth week, to 3.3 +/- 1.2 evacuations per day, and in the BEST Index, to 107 +/- 85. In the control group taking placebo, however, this effect was not observed. By contrast, the frequency of bowel movements and the BEST Index rose again in the tenth week until reaching initial values (4.6 +/- 1.9 evacuations daily and 180 +/- 61, respectively). No adverse drug events were observed.
In order to confirm these positive effects of S.b. in patients with Crohn’s disease, further controlled multicenter trials in a larger patient population should be performed.
Am J Gastro ’95: Clinical trial shows prophylactic use of S boulardii – with antibiotics – significantly reduced AAD
Posted by library in Diarrhea/AAD, S. boulardii on August 13, 2010
McFarland LV, Surawicz CM. Prevention of beta-lactam-associated diarrhea by Saccharomyces boulardii compared with placebo. Am J Gastroenterol 1995; 90:439-448.
OBJECTIVES:
To determine the safety and efficacy of a new preventive agent for antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) in patients receiving at least one beta-lactam antibiotic.
METHODS:
A double-blinded, placebo-controlled, parallel group study was performed in a high-risk group of hospitalized patients receiving a new prescription for a beta-lactam antibiotic and having no acute diarrhea on enrollment. Lyophilized Saccharomyces boulardii or placebo (1 g/day) was given within 72 h of the start of the antibiotic(s) and continued until 3 days after the antibiotic was discontinued, after which the patients were followed for 7 wk.
RESULTS:
Of the 193 eligible patients, significantly fewer, 7/97 (7.2%), patients receiving S. boulardii developed AAD compared with 14/96 (14.6%) on placebo (p = 0.02). The efficacy of S. boulardii for the prevention of AAD was 51%. Using a multivariate model to adjust for two independent risk factors for AAD (age and days of cephalosporin use), the adjusted relative risk was significantly protective for S. boulardii (RR = 0.29, 95% CI = 0.08, 0.98).
CONCLUSION:
The prophylactic use of S. boulardii given with a beta-lactam antibiotic resulted in a significant reduction of AAD with no serious adverse reactions.
Am J Gastro ’06: Meta-analysis reports effectiveness of 3 probiotics for AAD and S. boulardii for C-diff
Posted by library in Clostridium Difficile, S. boulardii on August 13, 2010
McFarland LV. Meta-analysis of probiotics for the prevention of antibiotic associated diarrhea and the treatment of Clostridium difficile disease. Am J Gastroenterol 2006; 101:812-822.
CONTEXT:
Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) is a common complication of most antibiotics and Clostridium difficile disease (CDD), which also is incited by antibiotics, is a leading cause of nosocomial outbreaks of diarrhea and colitis. The use of probiotics for these two related diseases remains controversial.
OBJECTIVE:
To compare the efficacy of probiotics for the prevention of AAD and the treatment of CDD based on the published randomized, controlled clinical trials.
DATA SOURCES:
PubMed, Medline, Google Scholar, NIH registry of clinical trials, metaRegister, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched from 1977 to 2005, unrestricted by language. Secondary searches of reference lists, authors, reviews, commentaries, associated diseases, books, and meeting abstracts.
STUDY SELECTION:
Trials were included in which specific probiotics given to either prevent or treat the diseases of interest. Trials were required to be randomized, controlled, blinded efficacy trials in humans published in peer-reviewed journals. Trials that were excluded were pre-clinical, safety, Phase 1 studies in volunteers, reviews, duplicate reports, trials of unspecified probiotics, trials of prebiotics, not the disease being studied, or inconsistent outcome measures. Thirty-one of 180 screened studies (totally 3,164 subjects) met the inclusion and exclusion criteria.
DATA EXTRACTION:
One reviewer identified studies and abstracted data on sample size, population characteristics, treatments, and outcomes.
DATA SYNTHESIS:
From 25 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), probiotics significantly reduced the relative risk of AAD (RR = 0.43, 95% CI 0.31, 0.58, p < 0.001). From six randomized trials, probiotics had significant efficacy for CDD (RR = 0.59, 95% CI 0.41, 0.85, p = 0.005).
CONCLUSION:
A variety of different types of probiotics show promise as effective therapies for these two diseases. Using meta-analyses, three types of probiotics (Saccharomyces boulardii, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, and probiotic mixtures) significantly reduced the development of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Only S. boulardii was effective for CDD.
Dig Dis Sci ’00: Significantly less clinical relapse in Crohn’s disease when S boulardii given with meds, better than meds alone
Posted by library in Intestinal Health, S. boulardii on May 9, 2010
Guslandi M, Mezzi G, Sorghi M, Testoni PA. Saccharomyces boulardii in maintenance treatment of Crohn’s disease. Dig Dis Sci 2000;45:1462-1464.
The possible role of Saccharomyces boulardii, a nonpathogenic yeast with beneficial effects on the human intestine, in the maintenance treatment of Crohn’s disease has been evaluated.
Thirty-two patients with Crohn’s disease in clinical remission (CDAI < 150) were randomly treated for six months with either mesalamine 1 g three times a day or mesalamine 1 g two times a day plus a preparation of Saccharomyces boulardii 1 g daily. Clinical relapses as assessed by CDAI values were observed in 37.5% of patients receiving mesalamine alone and in 6.25% of patients in the group treated with mesalamine plus the probiotic agent.
Our results suggest that Saccharomyces boulardii may represent a useful tool in the maintenance treatment of Crohn’s disease. However, in view of the product’s cost, further controlled studies are needed to confirm these preliminary data.
PMID: 10961730
Clin Infect Dis ’00: Patients using S. boulardii with antibiotics had significantly greater reduction in recurrence of C-diff
Posted by library in Clostridium Difficile, S. boulardii on May 9, 2010
Surawicz CM, McFarland LV, Greenberg RN, et al. The search for better treatment for recurrent Clostridium difficile disease: Use of high-dose vancomycin combined with Saccharomyces boulardii. Clin Infect Dis 2000;31:1012-1017.
Recurrent Clostridium difficile disease (CDD) is a difficult clinical problem because antibiotic therapy often does not prevent further recurrences. In a previous study, the biotherapeutic agent Saccharomyces boulardii was used in combination with standard antibiotics and was found to be effective in reducing subsequent recurrences of CDD.
In an effort to further refine a standard regimen, we tested patients receiving a regimen of a standard antibiotic for 10 days and then added either S. boulardii (1 g/day for 28 days) or placebo. A significant decrease in recurrences was observed only in patients treated with high-dose vancomycin (2 g/day) and S. boulardii (16.7%), compared with those who received high-dose vancomycin and placebo (50%; P=.05). No serious adverse reactions were observed in these patients.
Comparison of data from this trial with data from previous studies indicates that recurrent CDD may respond to a short course of high-dose vancomycin or to longer courses of low-dose vancomycin when either is combined with S. boulardii.
PMID: 11049785
AJCN ‘ 01: Review of multiple benefits of probiotics on intestinal and immune health
Posted by library in Clostridium Difficile, Diarrhea/AAD, Immune Health, Intestinal Health, S. boulardii on April 2, 2010
Marteau PR, de Vrese M, et al. Protection from gastrointestinal diseases with the use of probiotics. Am J Clin Nutrition, 2001;73(2):430S-436S
Probiotics are nonpathogenic microorganisms that, when ingested, exert a positive influence on the health or physiology of the host. They can influence intestinal physiology either directly or indirectly through modulation of the endogenous ecosystem or immune system.
The results that have been shown with a sufficient level of proof to enable probiotics to be used as treatments for gastrointestinal disturbances are
1) the good tolerance of yogurt compared with milk in subjects with primary or secondary lactose maldigestion,
2) the use of Saccharomyces boulardii and Enterococcus faecium SF 68 to prevent or shorten the duration of antibiotic-associated diarrhea,
3) the use of S. boulardii to prevent further recurrence of Clostridium difficile–associated diarrhea, and
4) the use of fermented milks containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG to shorten the duration of diarrhea in infants with rotavirus enteritis (and probably also in gastroenteritis of other causes).
Effects that are otherwise suggested for diverse probiotics include alleviation of diarrhea of miscellaneous causes; prophylaxis of gastrointestinal infections, which includes traveler’s diarrhea; and immunomodulation. Trials of gastrointestinal diseases that involve the ecosystem are currently being performed, eg, Helicobacter pylori infections, inflammatory bowel disease, and colon cancer.