title: Effect of the Probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii on Cholesterol and Lipoprotein Particles in Hypercholesterolemic Adults: A Single-Arm, Open-Label Pilot Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Elevated blood cholesterol levels are a major risk factor for coronary artery disease, the leading cause of death worldwide. Probiotics have been investigated as potential cholesterol-lowering therapies, but no previous studies have assessed the effect of the probiotic yeast Saccharomyces boulardii on cholesterol levels in human volunteers. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of S. boulardii on serum cholesterol and lipoprotein particles in hypercholesterolemic adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was a single-arm, open-label pilot study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve hypercholesterolemic participants were recruited into the study; one dropped out.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants took 5.6×10(10) colony forming unit (CFU) encapsulated S. boulardii (Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii CNCM I-1079) twice daily for an 8-week period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fasting concentrations of cholesterol (total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol [LDL-C], high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol [HDL-C], and triglycerides), lipoprotein particles (very-low-density lipoprotein-particle [VLDL-P], remnant lipoprotein particle [RLP-P], total LDL-P, LDL III-P, LDL IV-P, total HDL-P, and HDL 2b-P), and additional cardiovascular biomarkers (apo B-100, lipoprotein [a], high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, homocysteine, fibrinogen, and insulin) were measured at baseline, after 4 weeks, and after 8 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Remnant lipoprotein particles decreased by 15.5% (p=0.03) over the 8-week period. The remaining outcome measures were not significantly altered.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this pilot study, 8 weeks of daily supplementation with S. boulardii lowered remnant lipoprotein, a predictive biomarker and potential therapeutic target in the treatment and prevention of coronary artery disease.
authors.affiliation: Helfgott Research Institute, National College of Natural Medicine , Portland, OR.
authors.forename: Jennifer Joan
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: Douglas Allen
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Hanes
authors.forename: Morgan Beth
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Schafer
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mikolai
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zwickey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000178:diet therapy*; D008019:Life Style; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012440:Saccharomyces; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008074:Lipoproteins; D002784:Cholesterol