Patented Probiotic QuatrefloraTM
Probiotics are known for giving the body good bacteria, good bacteria that helps keep the body healthy and functioning as it should.
Probiotics form part of the microbiome – the collection of microorganisms / microbes that live together in our bodies. Different areas of the body (digestive system, urinary tract, vagina) have specific healthy microbiome requirements.
The microbes (bacteria, viruses, fungi) in these areas have the ability to be both helpful & harmful to our bodies. Most are symbiotic, but some are pathogenic & when they disrupt the microbiome, they cause illness and diseases like:
compromised immune, irritable & intestinal bowel disease, diabetes, urinary tract infections (including the bladder & kidneys), asthma, arthritis, bacterial vaginosis and the most common, candida.
The benefits of probiotics have long been proven in the fight against bacterial & yeast imbalances. Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-3856 is one such probiotic. Patented and trademarked as QuatrefloraTM in France, this probiotic yeast strain is showing its muscle in helping to combat various infections.
IBS
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal (GI) disorder, with symptoms of abdominal pain, bloating and altered bowel habits.
Since gut microbes are considered to play a role in the pathophysiology of IBS, the use of probiotics is often used to manage the gastrointestinal symptoms. However, the properties of probiotics are strain-dependent, and not all are equally powerful.
In a clinical trial aimed at evaluating clinical symptoms in people with IBS, double-blind placebo-controlled groups were evaluated. 64% of the group treated with S. cerevisiae CNCM I-3856 experienced an improvement in conditions after 4 weeks of treatment, compared to no improvement in the placebo group(1).
An individual patient data analysis was performed on two randomised clinical trials and found that S. cerevisiae CNCM I-3856 significantly improved abdominal pain/discomfort and bloating during the second month of supplementation, and GI symptoms significantly decreased during supplementation(2).
CANDIDA ALBICANS & BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS
The vaginal microbiome is delicately balanced system, subjected to both internal & external factors (menstrual cycle, hormones, antibiotics, life habits, contraceptives, gastro-intestinal health). If the environment is unbalanced, an excess of pathogens like bacteria or fungus can cause vaginal infections. Symptoms range from burning, itching, discharge, and pain, to discomfort whilst urinating. All of which affect a woman’s health and way-of-life. If left untreated, these infections can cause even more severe problems like endometriosis, cellular abnormalities & dysplasia, even increasing the risk of preterm labour.
It is important to note that the colon also houses vaginal infection, and so this “reservoir” can be the cause of recurring infections.
The main course of treatment involves a cream and oral medication, usually anti-fungal or anti-microbial and antibiotics. Unfortunately, there is the risk of developing resistance to some, if not all, of these treatments. And in the case of recurring infections where dosing is required often, or a long-term course of medication is prescribed, there will be a higher likelihood of a resistance being developed and vaginal microbiota not being able to rectify itself.
A mice study revealed the administration of S. cerevisiae CNCM I-3856 lead to an inhibition of the expression of several fungal components which in return lead to less vaginal inflammation (which is typical of candida vaginitis)(3).
Another study showed a large reduction in fungal load in infected mice treated with S. cerevisiae CNCM I-3856, and the study put forward their findings that S. cerevisiae CNCM I-3856 was beneficial in curing some vaginal mucosal infections(4).
A 10 mg/ml S. cerevisiae CNCM I-3856 vaginal wash was able to significantly decrease the Gardnerella vaginalis (vaginosis causing bacteria) load from the very first use and showed a decreased of 70% - 80% of G. vaginalis in cells.
There was also a marked reduction in epithelial exfoliation in infected cells(5).
A study was conducted so see if the oral administration of S. cerevisiae CNCM I-3856 would lead to the detection of the strain in vaginal swab samples, and so ascertain the survival of the probiotic in the gastro-intestinal tract.
21% of women showed vaginal detection of the probiotic, and 90% had traces in their faecal matter, showing its ability to migrate from the intestine to the vagina after oral administration, through the GI tract, and so benefit both intestine and vagina(6).
A 2-month oral administration of QuatrefloraTM to women showed a 57% decrease in candida load (opposed to 33% in placebo group), and a 54% decrease in recurrence(7).
Our intimate care product VAJAYAY® is packed full of this incredible probiotic along with a blend of organic cranberries and black chokeberries for extra UTI protection and relief.
- Pineton de Chambrun, G., Neut, C., Chau, A., Cazaubiel, M., Pelerin, F., Justen, P., & Desreumaux, P. (2015). A randomized clinical trial of Saccharomyces cerevisiae versus placebo in the irritable bowel syndrome. Digestive and Liver Disease, 47(2), 119–124.doi:10.1016/j.dld.2014.11.007
- Cayzeele-Decherf, A., Pélerin, F., Leuillet, S., Douillard, B., Housez, B., Cazaubiel, M., … Desreumaux, P. (2017). Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-3856 in irritable bowel syndrome: An individual subject meta-analysis. World Journal of Gastroenterology, 23(2), 336.doi:10.3748/wjg.v23.i2.336
- Gabrielli, E., Pericolini, E., Ballet, N., Roselletti, E., Sabbatini, S., Mosci, P., … Vecchiarelli, A. (2018). Saccharomyces cerevisiae-based probiotic as novel anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory agent for therapy of vaginal candidiasis. Beneficial Microbes, 9(2), 219–230.doi:10.3920/bm2017.0099
- Pericolini, E., Gabrielli, E., Ballet, N., Sabbatini, S., Roselletti, E., Cayzeele Decherf, A., … Vecchiarelli, A. (2016). Therapeutic activity of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae-based probiotic and inactivated whole yeast on vaginal candidiasis. Virulence, 8(1), 74–90.doi:10.1080/21505594.2016.1213937
- Sabbatini, S., Monari, C., Ballet, N., Mosci, P., Decherf, A. C., Pélerin, F., … Vecchiarelli, A. (2018). Saccharomyces cerevisiae–based probiotic as novel anti-microbial agent for therapy of bacterial vaginosis. Virulence, 9(1), 954–966.doi:10.1080/21505594.2018.1464362
- Decherf, A., Dehay, E., Boyer, M., Clément-Ziza, M., Rodriguez, B., & Legrain-Raspaud, S. (2020). Recovery of Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-3856 in Vaginal Samples of Healthy Women after Oral Administration. Nutrients, 12(8), 2211.doi:10.3390/nu12082211
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-3856 as a Natural Breakthrough for Vaginal Health: A Clinical Study. Cayzeele Decherf A, Pélerin F and Jüsten P, 2017, Medical Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 5(4): 1112
