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Brewer's yeast

Brewer's yeast is a type of yeast that is a by-product of beer production. Nutritional brewer's yeast supplements often contain dried yeast that is no longer alive. Brewer's yeast is also used in the production of medicine. Brewer's yeast is used for diarrhea, colds, upper respiratory tract infections, influenza, swine flu, loss of appetite, acne, furunculosis, type 2 diabetes and premenstrual syndrome. Brewer's yeast is also used as a source of B vitamins, chromium and protein.

How does brewer's yeast work?

Due to the high chromium content of brewer's yeast, there is interest in using it to lower blood sugar levels in diabetics. Chromium may help the body to use insulin more efficiently and this may lower blood sugar levels. In addition to this, brewer's yeast appears to stimulate enzymes in the digestive tract that could help relieve diarrhea. Brewer's yeast may also help fight bacteria that cause infections in the digestive tract and improve the body's defenses against viral lung infections such as the flu and the common cold. Brewer's yeast is a good source of B vitamins and protein.

How effective is brewer's yeast?

Brewer'syeast may be effective in treating symptoms of premenstrual syndrome when taken in combination with vitamins and minerals. There is not enough scientific data to draw any conclusions about the effectiveness of brewer 's yeast in preventing upper respiratory tract infections, including colds and flu. New research shows that taking a specific brewer's yeast formula significantly reduces the risk of developing flu and cold symptoms in healthy people who have recently received a flu vaccination. This product also helps to speed up the disappearance of these symptoms. There is also currently insufficient scientific data on the effectiveness of brewer's yeast for loss of appetite, acne, burns, diabetes and diarrhea. Further scientific research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of brewer's yeast in these areas of application.

Safety and side effects

Brewer's yeast appears to be safe and harmless for most people for short-term use. Possible side effects include headaches, stomach problems and flatulence. Not enough is known about the safety and harmlessness of long-term use.

Precautions and warnings

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Not enough is known about the use of brewer's yeast during pregnancy and breastfeeding, so pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid brewer's yeast to be on the safe side.

Yeast allergy: People who are allergic or sensitive to yeast may experience itching and swelling.

Crohn's disease: Brewer's yeast can aggravate Crohn's disease. For this reason, you should avoid brewer's yeast if you suffer from Crohn's disease.

Interactions

Brewer's yeast should not be used in combination with the following medications:

Medications for depression (MAO inhibitors (monoamine oxidase inhibitors)).

Brewer's yeast contains a chemical called tyramine. Large amounts of tyramine can cause high blood pressure. Normally, the body breaks down tyramine in order to excrete it, which prevents tyramine from increasing blood pressure. Some medications used in the treatment of depression prevent the body from breaking down tyramine. This can lead to high levels of tyramine in the body and dangerously high blood pressure.

Care should be taken when combining brewer's yeast with the following medications:

Medication for the treatment of fungal infections

Brewer's yeast is a fungus. Medication for the treatment of fungal infections helps to reduce the amount of fungi in the body. Taking brewer's yeast in combination with medication to treat fungal infections can reduce the effectiveness of brewer's yeast.

Dosage

The following dosages have been investigated in scientific studies.

Oral: For premenstrual syndrome: A specific brewer's yeast preparation was used in combination with vitamins and minerals.

References

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