Effect of Saccharomyces boulardii in children with acute gastroenteritis and its relationship to the immune response

J Int Med Res. 2007 Mar-Apr;35(2):201-12. doi: 10.1177/147323000703500204.

Abstract

We evaluated the effect of Saccharomyces boulardii administration in otherwise healthy children aged between 6 months and 10 years who were admitted for acute diarrhoea (15 males, 12 females). The patients were randomized into two groups: group 1 (n = 16) received 250 mg S. boulardii dissolved in 5 ml of water orally twice daily for 7 days and group 2 (n = 11) received placebo. Clinical and laboratory assessments were performed on admission and on day 7 of follow-up. Both groups experienced reduced daily stool frequency, the decrease being significantly greater in group 1 on days 3 and 4 compared with group 2. Group 1 demonstrated significant increases in serum immunoglobulin A and decreases in C-reactive protein levels on day 7. The percentage of CD8 lymphocytes on day 7 was significantly higher in group 1 than group 2. This study confirmed the efficacy of S. boulardii in paediatric acute gastroenteritis and the findings suggest that S. boulardii treatment enhances the immune response.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • C-Reactive Protein / analysis
  • CD4-CD8 Ratio
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Female
  • Gastroenteritis / immunology
  • Gastroenteritis / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin A / blood
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Immunoglobulin M / blood
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Placebos
  • Prospective Studies
  • Saccharomyces*

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin A
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • Placebos
  • C-Reactive Protein