Yeast is the term generally applied to a unicellular fungus, and there
are hundreds of species now identified. One of the most notable and
well-known species of yeast in health and wellness is known as
Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which is also known hy its more common
names, brewer's yeast or baker's yeast. Typically, brewer's yeast is
used as a protein supplement, energy booster, immune enhancer, or
other vehicle where other compounds can be inserted to create a
commercialized health product. For example, one of the most notable
positive findings was the encouraging results from a large randomized trial of adults recently vaccinated for seasonal influenza who
also received an over-the-counter daiiy adjuvant modified brewer's
yeast-based product (EpiCor^'*) to prevent coids and flu symptoms.
The modified yeast-based product significantly reduced the incidence and duration of this common condition. Yeast-based technology is also being used as a molecular mechanistic model of caloric
restriction (CR) with the goal of improving the human iife span. The
current and potential impact of yeast-based technology in medicine
is encouraging and should receive more attention, but the recent preiiminary positive resuits of CR in humans may be in part due to what
has been already learned from brewer's yeast