File this under "you learn something new everyday": Probiotics are not just bacteria. Apparently, a strain of yeast can be considered a probiotic if one expands the definition to include any microorganism that improves the health of its host.
How did I come to find this out? NUTRAingredients.com has just published a report that a French company, Lesaffre has announced a new strain of probiotic yeast that targets the symptoms of IBS. The strain, marketed under the name "Lynside Pro GI+", is currently patent-pending and undergoing clinical trials. The NUTRAingredients.com report states that results from an initial trial showed a superiority of Lynside Pro GI+ over placebo in alleviating IBS symptoms over an eight-week period.
This report prompted me to do a little digging on the subject of probiotic yeast. I found one published review article which found that a strain of yeast known as Saccharomyces boulardii was helpful for "antibiotic-associated diarrhea and recurrent Clostridium difficile intestinal infections". Not by coincidence I am sure, but Saccharomyces boulardii is also sold as a supplement by the Lasaffre company.
Well, you can say that you heard it here first. I wouldn't go running out to the store just yet, but it will be interesting to see if further research supports the company's claims. I am always happy to hear of new and safe treatment options.
Related Reading:
Sources:
Czerucka, D., Piche, T. & Rampal, P. "Review article: yeast as probiotics" Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics 2007 26:767-778.
Starling, S. "Lesaffre launches IBS probiotic yeast" NUTRAingredients.com September 2, 2010.
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