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

Ozkan T. B., Sahin E., Erdemir G., Budak F.

JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL RESEARCH, vol.35, no.2, pp.201-212, 2007 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 35 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2007
  • Doi Number: 10.1177/147323000703500204
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL RESEARCH
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.201-212
  • Keywords: probioitics, Saccharomyces boulardii, gastroenteritis, children, breast-feeding, immune response, paediatrics, ANTIBIOTIC-ASSOCIATED DIARRHEA, PLACEBO-CONTROLLED TRIAL, LACTOBACILLUS GG, T-CELLS, PREVENTION, PROBIOTICS, DISEASE, INFANTS, BETA
  • Bursa Uludag University Affiliated: Yes

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 I 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 I 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.