General Description
Brewer's yeast is the dried cells of the fungus Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Originally obtained as a by-product of beermaking, and now cultured
specifically for use as a dietary supplement, brewer's yeast is
a rich source of the trace minerals chromium, selenium, and copper
and is very high in protein (over 50 percent protein by weight),
with 18 different amino acids. Brewer's yeast is also a good source
of many B-complex vitamins, most notably thiamin, riboflavin, niacin,
vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine), and folic acid. While traditional brewer's
yeast has a strong bitter taste, "debittered" yeast is also available.
Health Applications
- General nutrition
- Diabetes
- Acne
Primary Uses
While its impressive protein, vitamin, and mineral content have
made brewer's yeast a popular supplement for improving overall
nutritional status, there is little scientific evidence to support
most therapeutic uses. Germany's Commission E has approved brewer's
yeast for treatment of chronic acne,1 and a study conducted
on 139 acne patients found it to be fairly effective for that
purpose.2 Although brewer's yeast is a rich source
of chromium, which has been shown in some studies to improve glucose
tolerance in patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
(NIDDM),3,4 the effects of brewer's yeast supplementation
on NIDDM have not been determined. In one small study conducted
on 24 elderly subjects, brewer's yeast supplementation improved
glucose tolerance and cholesterol levels;5 however,
animal research suggests that brewer's yeast may actually have
a cholesterol-raising effect.6
Dosage/Toxicity
The dosage for brewer's yeast approved by Commission E is 6 grams
per day.1 Brewer's yeast appears to be well tolerated
at this dosage level; however, side effects such as migraine-like
headaches have been reported on some sensitive individuals.1
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