title: Saccharomyces boulardii in maintenance treatment of Crohn's disease.
abstract: The possible role of Saccharomyces boulardii, a nonpathogenic yeast with beneficial effects on the human intestine, in the maintenance treatment of Crohn's disease has been evaluated. Thirty-two patients with Crohn's disease in clinical remission (CDAI < 150) were randomly treated for six months with either mesalamine 1 g three times a day or mesalamine 1 g two times a day plus a preparation of Saccharomyces boulardii 1 g daily. Clinical relapses as assessed by CDAI values were observed in 37.5% of patients receiving mesalamine alone and in 6.25% of patients in the group treated with mesalamine plus the probiotic agent. Our results suggest that Saccharomyces boulardii may represent a useful tool in the maintenance treatment of Crohn's disease. However, in view of the product's cost, further controlled studies are needed to confirm these preliminary data.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Unit, S. Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guslandi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mezzi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sorghi
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Testoni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019804:Mesalamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence; D012440:Saccharomyces; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D019804:Mesalamine