Saccharomyces boulardii inhibits water and electrolytes changes induced by castor oil in the rat colon.

The biotherapeutic agent Saccharomyces boulardii has been shown to inhibit castor oil-induced diarrhoea in rats. The present study investigated the mechanism(s) of this antidiarrhoeal effect in terms of water and electrolyte (sodium, potassium and chloride) changes using two rat models. A single oral dose of S. boulardii of up to 12 x 10(10) CFU/kg of viable cells did not inhibit castor oil-induced fluid secretion in the enteropooling model. However, the yeast dose dependently reduced castor oil induced fluid secretion into the colon, with a significant protection at 12 x 10(10) CFU/kg. In this model, castor oil reversed net sodium and chloride absorption into net secretion, and increased net potassium secretion into the lumen. Single pre-treatment with S. boulardii at 4 and 12 x 10(10) CFU/kg dose dependently decreased these electrolyte changes. In conclusion, S. boulardii possesses potent anti-secretory properties versus water and electrolyte secretion induced by castor oil in the rat colon.