A Randomized, Controlled Study Evaluating Effects of Saccharomyces boulardii in Adult Patients with Asthma

To determine the potential benefit of adding <i>Saccharomyces boulardii (S. boulardii</i>) probiotic supplementation to conventional treatments in asthmatic patients.In this randomized, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled trial 50 asthmatic patients were enrolled. The eligible subjects received either <i>S. boulardii</i> (N=25) or placebo (N=25) added to conventional treatments for three months. Spirometry parameters (FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC, and FEF 25-75%) and blood test parameters (CBC, eosinophil percentage, IgE, IL-5, ESR and CRP) were measured and compared at baseline and after treatment completion.The mean age was 39.22±12.55 years. As compared to baseline values, a significant improvement was noted in FEV1 in patients who received <i>S. boulardii</i> (<i>p</i>=0.026). Although the changes in FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC, and FEF 25-75% were comparable between the study groups, the differences were not statistically significant (<i>p</i> ˃ 0.05). In addition, patients who received probiotic showed lower levels of IL-5 and IgE in comparison with patients who received placebo.Our findings showed that the addition of <i>S. boulardii</i> to conventional treatments partially improved the pulmonary function and was associated with reductions in IgE and IL-5 levels.