Gastroprotective effect of Saccharomyces boulardii in a rat model of ibuprofen-induced gastric ulcer.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Saccharomyces boulardii is a probiotic yeast which has been shown to protect the gastrointestinal microflora from disequilibrium and from associated gastrointestinal disorders. However, no study has explored the potential effect of this probiotic in ulcer models.

METHODS

The present study was designed to address this goal using the ibuprofen-induced ulcer rat model.

RESULTS

Oral administration of ibuprofen (100 mg/kg) for 6 consecutive days induced ulceration of the gastric mucosa. Oral co-administration of S. boulardii (Biocodex, France) at 1.2, 4 or 12 x 10(10) CFU/kg dose-dependently and significantly reduced the numbers of gastric ulcers and the ulceration surface of the gastric mucosa. At the same time, serum nitrate and nitrite levels were measured before and on the 6th day. Contrary to what we expected, the serum nitrate and nitrite levels did not increase after ibuprofen administration, but this parameter significantly augmented in the groups where ibuprofen was co-administered with the two highest doses of S. boulardii.

CONCLUSION

The present findings suggest that S. boulardii offers some potential in the treatment or prevention of ulcers induced by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, but its mechanism of action needs to be further explored.