Brewer’s Yeast

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Brewer's Yeast

 

Also indexed as:

Saccharomyces cerevisiae

 

What does it do? Brewer's yeast is the dried, pulverized cells of

Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a type of fungus.

It is a rich source of B-complex vitamins, protein (providing all

essential amino acids), and minerals, including a biologically

active form of chromium known as glucose tolerance factor (GTF).

 

Brewer's yeast should not be confused with nutritional yeast or

torula yeast, which are low in chromium.

 

Brewer's yeast, perhaps by changing the microbial flora in the large

intestine, might be helpful in the treatment of some cases of

infectious diarrhea.

 

Where is it found? Brewer's yeast, which has a very bitter taste, is

recovered after being used in the beer-brewing process. Brewer's

yeast can also be grown specifically for harvest as a nutritional

supplement. " De-bittered " yeast is also available, though most yeast

sold in health food stores that does not taste bitter is not real

brewer's yeast.

 

Brewer's yeast has been used in connection with the following

conditions (refer to the individual health concern for complete

information):

 

Rating Health Concerns-

 

Diabetes

High cholesterol

Diarrhea (infectious)

 

 

Who is likely to be deficient? Brewer's yeast is not an essential

nutrient, but it can be used as a source of B-complex vitamins and

protein. It is by far the best source of chromium, both in terms of

quantity and bio-availability.

 

How much is usually taken? Brewer's yeast is often taken as a

powder, or as tablets or capsules. High-quality brewer's yeast

powder or flakes contain as much as 60 mcg of chromium per

tablespoon (15 grams). When doctors recommend brewer's yeast, they

will often suggest 1–2 tablespoons (15–30 grams) of this high-

potency bulk product per day. Remember, if it is not bitter, it is

not likely to be real brewer's yeast and therefore will not contain

biologically active chromium. In addition, " primary grown " yeast

(i.e., that grown specifically for harvest, as opposed to that

recovered in the brewing process) may not contain GTF.

 

Are there any side effects or interactions? Side effects have not

been reported from the use of brewer's yeast, although allergies to

it exist in some people.

 

 

Because it contains a highly biologically active form of chromium,

supplementation with brewer's yeast could potentially enhance the

effects of drugs for diabetes (e.g., insulin or other blood sugar-

lowering agents) and possibly lead to hypoglycemia. Therefore,

people with diabetes taking these medications should supplement with

chromium or brewer's yeast only under the supervision of a doctor.

 

Saccharomyces boulardii is registered in Europe under the name

Saccharomyces cerevisiae, though the manufacturer states that S.

boulardii is not the same as brewer's yeast (S. cerevisiae).

 

There is a case report of a person with severely impaired immune

function who, after receiving treatment with S. boulardii, developed

an invasive fungal infection identified as S. cerevisiae.

 

People with severe impairment of the immune system should therefore

not take brewer's yeast or S. boulardii unless supervised by a

doctor.

 

Are there any drug interactions? Certain medications may interact

with brewer's yeast. Refer to the drug interactions safety check for

a list of those medications.

 

 

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