![<img src='https://images.vital.ly/monographs/tr:w-800,c-at_max,dpr-2,q-100/brewers_yeast_vital_ly.png' /> Brewer's yeast](https://images.vital.ly/monographs/tr:w-800,c-at_max,dpr-2,q-100/brewers_yeast_vital_ly.png)
Background
Some brewer's yeast products contain live yeast, while others contain non-living yeast. Brewer's yeast is a source of B vitamins and protein. It also contains chromium, which might help the body use insulin better and lower blood sugar levels. Brewer's yeast also seems to increase enzymes in the stomach that could relieve diarrhea and improve the body's defense against viral infections like the flu.
People use brewer's yeast for diabetes, flu, diarrhea, high cholesterol, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Safety Safety definitions
There isn't enough reliable information to know if brewer's yeast is safe to use long-term or what the side effects might be. Stick with short-term use.
When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if brewer's yeast is safe or what the side effects might be.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if brewer's yeast is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.Children: There isn't enough reliable information to know if brewer's yeast is safe for children, including very small premature infants.
Crohn disease: Brewer's yeast can make Crohn disease worse. Don't use brewer's yeast if you have Crohn disease.
Weakened immune system: There is some concern that brewer's yeast might increase the risk of blood infections in people with weakened immune systems. This includes people with HIV/AIDS or cancer, or people who have taken medicines to prevent rejection of a transplanted organ. If you have a weakened immune system, talk with your healthcare provider before taking a brewer's yeast supplement.
Effectiveness
- A long-term disorder of the large intestines that causes stomach pain (irritable bowel syndrome or IBS). Taking brewer's yeast 500-1000 mg by mouth daily for 8-12 weeks reduces stomach pain and improves stools in people with IBS. It seems to take at least a month to start working.
Dosing & administration
Interactions with pharmaceuticals
Lithium
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Some brewer's yeast contains lithium. Taking brewer's yeast along with lithium might increase how much lithium is in the body and result in serious side effects. Talk with your healthcare provider before using this product if you are taking lithium.
Medications for depression (MAOIs)
Interaction Rating=Major Do not take this combination.
Brewer's yeast contains a chemical called tyramine. Large amounts of tyramine can cause high blood pressure. Some medications used for depression stop the body from breaking down tyramine. This can cause too much tyramine in the body and dangerously high blood pressure.
Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Brewer's yeast might lower blood sugar levels. Taking brewer's yeast along with diabetes medications might cause blood sugar to drop too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely.
Medications for fungal infections (Antifungals)
Interaction Rating=Minor Be watchful with this combination.
Brewer's yeast is a yeast (a fungus). Medications for fungal infections help reduce fungus in and on the body. Taking brewer's yeast with medications for fungal infections can reduce the effects of brewer's yeast.
Interactions with herbs & supplements
Herbs and supplements that might lower blood sugar: Brewer's yeast might lower blood sugar. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might lower blood sugar too much. Examples of supplements with this effect include aloe, bitter melon, cassia cinnamon, chromium, and prickly pear cactus.
Interactions with foods
Products
View all products- Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Brewer’s yeast) 8.33 mg
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SB) 11.9 mg equiv. bakers yeast beta glucan 59.5 mg
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae (boulardii) (SB) 8.33 mg
- Bifidobacterium longum 1.33 billion CFU
- Lactobacillus brevis 0.67 billion CFU
- Lactobacillus helveticus 0.67 billion CFU
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus 0.67 billion CFU
- Streptococcus thermophilus 0.73 billion CFU
- Cordyceps sinensis powder 66.67 mg
- Ganoderma lucidum powder 66.67 mg
- Grifola frondosa powder 66.67 mg
- Lentinula edodes powder 66.67 mg
- Polyporus umbellatus powder 16.67 mg
- Tremella fuciformis powder 50 mg
- Yeast 8.3 mg equiv. chromium 16.67 µg
- Yeast 8.3 mg equiv. molybdenum 16.67 µg
- Yeast 8.3 mg equiv. selenium 16.67 µg
- Apple pectin 100 mg
- Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina) 33.33 mg
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SB) 11.9 mg equiv. bakers yeast beta glucan 59.5 mg
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Brewer’s yeast) 8.33 mg
- Bifidobacterium longum ssp. infantis 1.33 billion CFU
- Lactobacillus acidophilus 1.33 billion CFU
- Lactobacillus casei 1.33 billion CFU
- Lactobacillus gasseri 0.67 billion CFU
- Lactobacillus paracasei 1.33 billion CFU
- Lactobacillus plantarum 1.33 billion CFU
- Lactobacillus reuteri 0.67 billion CFU
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus 0.67 billion CFU
- Lactobacillus salivarius 0.67 billion CFU
- Streptococcus thermophilus 0.67 billion CFU
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae (boulardii) (SB) 8.33 mg
- Ganoderma lucidum powder 83.33 mg
- Yeast 8.33 mg equiv. chromium 16.67 µg
- Yeast 10.41 mg equiv. molybdenum 20.8 µg
- Yeast 24.6 mg equiv. selenium 49 µg
- Colostrum - bovine 33.3 mg
- L-glutamic acid 33.3 mg
- Glutamic acid hydrochloride 33.3 mg
- Iberis amara ext. 33.3 mg
- Yucca gloriosa ext. 33.34 mg
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Brewer’s yeast)
- Brassica oleracea var. acephala (leaf) powder (Kale)
- Chlorella pyrenoidosa powder
- Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina)
- Lactobacillus acidophilus
- Bifidobacterium bifidum
- Bifidobacterium lactis
- Inulin (Dietary fibre)
- Acacia sp. (gum)
- Fagopyrum esculentum (leaf)
- Fragaria ananassa (Strawberry)
- Ananas comosus (Pineapple)
- Malus (Apple)
- Citrullus lanatus (Watermelon)
- Siraitia grosvenorii (Monk fruit)
- Spinacia oleracea (Spinach)
- Daucus carota powder (Carrot)
- Lycium barbarum (fruit)
- Brassica oleracea var. italica (sprout) powder
- Curcuma longa (rhizome)
- Malpighia glabra (fruit) powder
- Medicago sativa
- Punica granatum
- Rubus idaeus
- Bifidobacterium longum
- Fructooligosaccharides
- Pyrus communis (Pear)
- Lentinula edodes
- Urtica dioica
- Mentha x piperita
- Laminaria digitara (Kelp)
- Green banana starch
- Oryza sativa (Rice fibre)
- Xanthan gum
- Rhodophyta (Red seaweed)
- Berry flavour
- Nutritional yeast flakes (Dried yeast)
- Chicken, bones
- Chicken, roasted
- Allium schoenoprasum dry
- Allium sativum powder
- Apple cider vinegar
- Pink Himalayan crystal salt
- Rosmarinus officinalis ext.
- Allium cepa powder
- Piper nigrum (seed) oil
- Tapioca
- Nutritional yeast flakes (Dried yeast)
- Fermented soybean paste (Miso)
- Daucus carota powder (Carrot)
- Spinacia oleracea (Spinach)
- Brassica oleracea var. acephala (leaf) powder (Kale)
- Pumpkin powder
- Sweet potato powder
- Brassica oleracea var. italica (seed) powder
- Pink Himalayan crystal salt
- Oryza sativa (Brown rice protein)
- Curcuma longa powder
- Arctic sea algae
- Laminaria digitara (Kelp)
- Petroselinum crispum powder
- Allium schoenoprasum powder
- Piper nigrum powder
- Sea salt
- Nutritional yeast flakes (Dried yeast)
- Beef bones
- Curcuma longa powder 160 mg
- Apple cider vinegar
- Pink Himalayan crystal salt
- Hydrolysed bovine collagen peptides
- Piper nigrum
- Tapioca
- Nutritional yeast flakes (Dried yeast)
- Fermented soybean paste (Miso)
- Tapioca
- Pink Himalayan crystal salt
- Oryza sativa (Brown rice protein)
- Ganoderma lucidum
- Lentinula edodes
- Curcuma longa powder
- Pumpkin powder
- Brassica oleracea var. acephala (leaf) powder (Kale)
- Spinacia oleracea (Spinach)
- Sweet potato powder
- Daucus carota powder (Carrot)
- Brassica oleracea var. italica (Broccoli)
- Arctic sea algae
- Laminaria digitara (Kelp)
- Petroselinum crispum
- Allium schoenoprasum
- Piper nigrum
- Aspergillus oryzae (Kōji mould)
- Sodium chloride (Salt)
- Oryza sativa (Brown rice)
- Nutritional yeast flakes (Dried yeast)
- Chicken, bones
- Chicken, roasted
- Lentinula edodes powder
- Grifola frondosa
- Apple cider vinegar
- Pink Himalayan crystal salt
- Rosmarinus officinalis ext.
- Piper nigrum powder
- Allium cepa
- Tapioca
- Nutritional yeast flakes (Dried yeast)
- Chicken, bones
- Chicken, roasted
- Apple cider vinegar
- Pink Himalayan crystal salt
- Tapioca
- Rosmarinus officinalis ext.
- Piper nigrum (seed) powder
- Allium cepa
- Nutritional yeast flakes (Dried yeast)
- Chicken, bones
- Chicken, roasted
- Curcuma longa powder
- Apple cider vinegar
- Pink Himalayan crystal salt
- Tapioca
- Rosmarinus officinalis ext.
- Piper nigrum
- Allium cepa
- Nutritional yeast flakes (Dried yeast)
- Fermented soybean paste (Red miso)
- Oryza sativa (Rice)
- Sea salt
- Aspergillus oryzae (Kōji mould)
- Medium Chain Triglycerides (powder) (MCT)
- Pink Himalayan crystal salt
- Tapioca
- Allium cepa
- Daucus carota powder (Carrot)
- Apium graveolens
- Oryza sativa (Brown rice)
- Allium sativum
- Curcuma longa
- Pumpkin powder
- Brassica oleracea var. acephala (leaf) powder (Kale)
- Spinacia oleracea (Spinach)
- Sweet potato powder
- Brassica oleracea var. italica (Broccoli)
- Laminaria digitara (Kelp)
- Petroselinum crispum
- Allium schoenoprasum
- Piper nigrum
- Arctic sea algae
- Nutritional yeast flakes (Dried yeast)
- Oryza sativa (Rice)
- Chicken, bones
- Chicken, roasted
- Glycine max
- Sea salt
- Apple cider vinegar
- Coconut medium-chain triglyceride (Coconut MCT)
- Pink Himalayan crystal salt
- Tapioca
- Rosmarinus officinalis ext.
- Allium cepa
- Allium sativum
- Piper nigrum
- Nutritional yeast flakes (Dried yeast)
- Oryza sativa (Rice)
- Beef bones
- Glycine max
- Beef
- Sea salt
- Hydrolysed bovine collagen peptides
- Apple cider vinegar
- Coconut medium-chain triglyceride (Coconut MCT)
- Pink Himalayan crystal salt
- Tapioca
- Allium cepa
- Allium sativum
- Piper nigrum
- Nutritional yeast flakes (Dried yeast)
- Chicken, bones
- Chicken collagen peptides
- Sweet potato powder
- Cucurbita pepo
- Sea salt
- Apple cider vinegar
- Tasmannia lanceolata
- Nutritional yeast flakes (Dried yeast)
- Chicken, bones
- Chicken collagen peptides
- Citrus limon (Lemon)
- Paprika
- Sweet potato powder
- Cucurbita pepo
- Sea salt
- Apple cider vinegar
- Allium sativum
- Tasmannia lanceolata
- Capsicum spp.