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S. Boulardii: A Helpful Yeast When You Need Antibiotics
S. Boulardii and Antibiotics: Where Kefir Soda Fits In
When you need an antibiotic, you want it to do its job. But sometimes your digestion and microbiome need a little extra attention.
There’s a helpful little yeast you should know about: Saccharomyces boulardii. I love learning about the different jobs our microbes can do. Here is what makes this yeast interesting.
It is not a bacterium but a very helpful yeast, so antibiotics don't affect it. Researchers have studied it for its role in preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea. It's also one of the microbes we selected for our Cutting Edge Cultures Kefir Soda Starter. That's a special connection between learning about microbes and making something in your kitchen.
How S. Boulardii Helps
One of the benefits to discuss here is a reduced risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. This means diarrhea that develops in connection with taking an antibiotic.
A 2015 review brought together 21 randomized trials involving 4,780 people. Across those studies, diarrhea occurred in 8.5% of participants receiving S. boulardii, compared with 18.7% receiving placebo or no treatment.
Put another way, about 19 out of every 100 people in the comparison groups developed diarrhea, versus about 9 out of every 100 receiving S. boulardii.[1]
I have actually had people tell me that it helped them with this when nothing else would.
H. Pylori
S. boulardii is absent from the natural gut since it is a transient yeast that passes through the intestines after ingestion. If taken every day, it provides a steady stream in the colon within three days and is cleared from the stools two to five days later. [2]
It does not attach to the mucosal cell lining, but works its magic on you as it moves through the gastrointestinal tract.
When S. boulardii is present, it inhibits toxins from binding to intestinal receptors and steals the metabolites it needs to survive. Thus, many pathogens pass out of the body unable to survive in the presence of this powerful probiotic.
They even found that other pathogen strains like E. coli, Salmonella typhimurium, and S. typhi adhere to the surface of S. boulardii, thus preventing them from attaching to the mucosal lining and passing through the body, rendering them harmless.
S. boulardii can also dramatically reduce the population of the bacteria H. pylori in the gut but is not capable of its eradication when used as single therapy.[3]
Candida and S. Boulardi
Good Yeasts Deserve Some Attention, Too!
When we talk about cultured foods, we spend a lot of time talking about bacteria. But yeasts are part of the story, too.
S. boulardii is a yeast, and it is different from Candida albicans. The research looking at how these two interact is fascinating.
In a 2010 laboratory study, compounds released by S. boulardii interfered with several behaviors that can help Candida cause problems. They reduced its ability to form long, threadlike structures, adhere to surfaces, and develop biofilms. Biofilms are communities of microbes that stick together on a surface. One compound the researchers identified was capric acid. [4]
I love learning about these relationships. Microbes have their own ways of interacting with one another, and researchers are helping us understand them.
Where Does Kefir Soda Fit In?
Here's the part we can bring into the kitchen!
Our Kefir Soda Starter includes S. boulardii along with other selected microbes. That makes it a cultured drink made with this interesting yeast—and a refreshing way to explore fermentation at home.
This article is specifically about soda made with our starter and S. boulardii. Water kefir grains are a different culture; they don't contain S. bouradii and it is good to know which strains you're getting. Check out all our Recipes!
Come Make Pumpkin Spice Kefir Soda With Me 🎃
This week, I’m sharing a recipe from my Fall Member Cooking Club with everyone! Watch the video below and come make Pumpkin Spice Kefir Soda with me—a bubbly fall drink with cozy pumpkin spice flavor.
If you’d like to keep cooking together, my Biotic Pro membership includes more Cooking Club recipes, videos, and downloadable recipe collections. You’ll also find step-by-step help in my Kefir Soda: Basics course.
That’s what I love about cultured foods. There’s always something to learn—and something delicious to make. ❤️
Listen To My Podcast
Did you know that kefir soda contains a beneficial yeast that may be especially helpful when taking antibiotics? 🥤✨ In this episode, I'm sharing the fascinating role of Saccharomyces boulardii, a friendly yeast that can survive alongside antibiotics and help support your gut microbiome. We'll talk about why this yeast is so special, how it differs from beneficial bacteria, and why kefir soda is one of my favorite cultured drinks. Come learn how these tiny microbes can make a big difference in your gut health!
References:
- Szajewska and Kołodziej, 2015: Systematic review with meta-analysis of S. boulardii for prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea.
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4542552/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4733292/
- Murzyn et al., 2010: Capric acid secreted by S. boulardii inhibits C. albicans filamentous growth, adhesion and biofilm formation.
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