Harvard researchers find positive effects of probiotic yeast on healthy human gut

Published: 22-Oct-2014

Even in the presence of potent antibiotics


Biocodex USA, a Silicon Valley-based pharmaceutical company, has released the findings of its first US study on the effect of the probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745 (Sb) on the healthy human gut.

Researchers Ciarán Kelly, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Director of Gastroenterology Training at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Toufic Kabbani, Gastroenterology fellow at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, used DNA technology to investigate the effects of Sb, a non-pathogenic probiotic yeast, and Amoxicillin/Clavulanate, a commonly prescribed antibiotic, on the microbiome of the healthy human GI tract, where 70% of our immune system resides.

Key findings showed that Sb can help to maintain and restore a healthy and balanced intestinal ecosystem.

‘The findings clearly demonstrate what many clinicians and even our own grandmothers long suspected. Both friendly and potentially unfriendly bacteria are eliminated from the gut in the presence of commonly prescribed antibiotics,’ said Kelly.

Both friendly and potentially unfriendly bacteria are eliminated from the gut in the presence of commonly prescribed antibiotics

‘This leaves those bacteria resistant to the antibiotic with the opportunity to grow out of control. However, supplementing the antibiotic treatment with this probiotic yeast, Sb, helps preserve a balance in key intestinal bacterial populations. This is significant because when taking potent antibiotics, intestinal upset often interrupts therapy. But in healthy humans, this unique non-bacterial probiotic actually helped maintain key bacterial population ratios to preserve intestinal balance.’

Marc Rohman, US Executive Vice President and General Manager of Biocodex USA, said: ‘Why study the healthy human gut while so many research-worthy diseases struggle for funding? We believe the proverbial ounce of prevention can be discovered, if we use the latest technology to research healthy humans.

‘It is clear that a healthy gut is critical to preserve good health. And these findings demonstrate that this probiotic yeast, now proven to preserve gut flora balance - even when an antibiotic is on board - can significantly contribute to preventative health care.’

The findings of the study were presented simultaneously at United European Gastroenterology Week in Vienna and the American College of Gastroenterology 2014 Annual Scientific Meeting in Philadelphia.

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