S. boulardii and Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Two recent studies say that S. boulardii did not help with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). It's something that many people try at some point.

As we know, there are hundreds of causes of IBS, so it's unlikely that a study on one treatment will find it effective. However, I have also not found S. boulardii to be effective in IBS.

S. boulardii study #1

Role of Saccharomyces boulardii in diarrhea predominant irritable bowel syndrome.

-Kabir MA, Ishaque SM, Ali MS, Mahmuduzzaman M, Hasan M.

Several studies with probiotics have shown promising results in the treatment of IBS. One of the probiotics used was saccharomyces boulardii. This is a randomized double blind placebo controlled clinical trial of S. boulardii in diarrhoea predominant IBS and was carried out in the hospital of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh from June 2004 to July 2005.

Thirty five (35) patients were included in each of the control and study groups. The study group was treated with S. boulardii 250 mg twice daily orally for one month. Patients were evaluated before therapy, at the end of therapy and 30 days after end of therapy by a scoring system which included symptoms as well as personal and professional life.

No significant difference between the two groups was found in any of the parameters evaluated on any of the observation days. S. boulardii treatment for 30 days in diarrhoea predominant IBS patients did not result in any improvement in this study.

S. boulardii study #2

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter trial of saccharomyces boulardii in irritable bowel syndrome: effect on quality of life.

-Choi CH, Jo SY, Park HJ, Chang SK, Byeon JS, Myung SJ.

BACKGROUND:

Probiotics confer health benefits to the host. However, its clinical effect on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is controversial.

AIMS:

This study was aimed to evaluate the effects of Saccharomyces boulardii on quality of life (QOL) and symptoms in patients with diarrhea-predominant IBS or mixed-type IBS.

METHODS:

Sixty-seven patients with IBS were randomized either to receive S. boulardii at 2×10 live cells as a daily dose (n=34), or placebo (n=33) for 4 weeks. IBS-QOL was assessed at the beginning and end of the treatment phase. IBS-related symptoms, bowel movement frequency, and stool consistency were recorded on a daily basis and assessed each week.

RESULTS:

The overall improvement in IBS-QOL was higher in S. boulardii group than placebo (15.4% vs 7.0%; P<0.05). All eight domains of IBS-QOL were significantly improved in S. boulardii group; however, placebo group only showed improvements in dysphoria and health worry. Composite scores for IBS symptoms were significantly reduced in both groups to a similar extent. Bowel frequency and stool consistency did not change in either group.

CONCLUSIONS:

S. boulardii improved IBS-QOL better than placebo but was not superior for individual symptoms in patients with diarrhea-predominant IBS or mixed-type IBS.

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Image thanks to probioticsreviewed.com
More information on IBS case studies at National Institutes of Health
More information on treating your IBS and food allergies at IBSTreatmentCenter.com