Description

• This product features concentrated probiotic factors that are ideal for patients following or during antibiotic therapy to support a healthy balance of intestinal microflora and healthy intestinal function. You may opt to use this formulation while traveling, while on antibiotics, after a course of antibiotics, or as support in cases of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. ♦ These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases.

Product Info

• Saccharomyces Boulardi is a type of yeast. It is not brewer’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), which is inactivated and simply used as a nutritious food. Rather, S. Boulardi, when ingested, is active in the digestive tract, producing various substances that are helpful to humans. (See glossary for more detail.) Bifidobacterium lactis and Lactobacillus rhamnosus are probiotic bacteria that have their own unique positive effects and are supportive of S. Boulardii's antidiarrheal and other activity.

MD Info

• PRINTED IN THE 2008 issue of the JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY... Doron SI, Hibberd PL, Gorbach SL. Division of Geographic Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Tufts-New England Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA. sdoron@tufts-nemc.org Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) occurs in approximately 25% of patients receiving antibiotics. Hospitalized patients with AAD are at increased risk for nosocomial infections and have a higher mortality. Probiotics are living microorganisms used to restore gut health by changing the intestinal microbiota. Several have been studied for the prevention of AAD. Five meta-analyses of trials of probiotics for the prevention of AAD have been performed. The results showed an overall reduction in the risk of AAD when probiotics were coadministered with antibiotics. McFarland conducted the largest meta-analysis to date analyzing 25 randomized controlled trials of probiotics for the prevention of AAD including 2810 subjects. More than half of the trials demonstrated efficacy of the probiotic. In particular, Lactobacillus GG, Saccharomyces boulardii, and the probiotic mixtures were effective. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews published a review of the literature on the use of probiotics for the prevention of pediatric AAD, including 10 randomized trials testing 1986 children. The per protocol pooled analysis, but not the intent-to-treat analysis, showed that probiotics are effective for preventing AAD with the number needed to treat to prevent 1 case of diarrhea being 10. Lactobacillus GG, Bacillus coagulans, and S. boulardii appeared to be most effective. Probiotics are generally safe, however, they should be used with caution in patients who have compromise of either the immune system or the integrity of the intestinal mucosa, and in the presence of a central venous catheter. PMID: 18542041 [PubMed - in process] ARTICLE IN 1997 journal called intensive care medicine. CONCLUSIONS: S. boulardii prevents diarrhea in critically ill tube-fed patients, especially in patients with risk factors for diarrhea. HERE's another interesting article on Traveler's diarrhea. 1: Fortschr Med. 1996 Apr 20;114(11):136-40.Links [Treatment of persistent diarrhea with S. boulardii in returning travelers. Results of a prospective study][Article in German] Kirchhelle A, Frühwein N, Tobüren D. Institut für Immun-, Tropenmedizin, Impfwesen, München. AIM: The efficacy and tolerability of Saccharomyces boulardii (S.b.) were investigated in patients with diarrhea contracted while travelling abroad. METHOD: The efficacy of S.b. was determined on the basis of the frequency and consistency of stools (fewer than 3 unformed stools a day), and symptom changes. A total of 95 patients (49 females, 46 males) aged between 19 and 69 (mean age 32) years were treated with S.b. at a daily dose of between 150 and 450 mg (mean 428 mg) (3 x 1-3 capsules). RESULTS: Prior to admission to the study, diarrhea had persisted for an average of 11 days; under treatment with S.b. it cleared up after a mean of 5 days. A tendency towards greater efficacy in patients returning from The Middle East and South America was noted. Tolerability was assessed to be very good or good by almost all participants, with side effects occurring in only 2 cases. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrates that S.b. is both effective and well tolerated when used for the treatment of persistent diarrhea (mean duration 11 days) that had often failed (67% of the cases) to respond to previous antidiarrheal or antibiotic drugs. PMID: 8682428 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Label

• Each capsule supplies: Saccharomyces boulardii (5.5 billion live organisms) and a 3:1 blend of: Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 (4 billion live organisms) [Total: 9.5 billion live organisms] Other ingredients: Capsule (gelatin, sodium copper chlorophyllin, and titanium dioxide), microcrystalline cellulose, stearic acid, silica, and magnesium stearate. The gelatin in the capsules is plant-derived. Note: For maxiumum stability and viability, keep this product refrigerated.