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Head-to-head evidence comparison — which supplement is right for you?
Elderberry vs Saccharomyces Boulardii: Saccharomyces Boulardii has the stronger overall evidence (8.5 vs 6/10); they're alternatives for support immune system — the best pick depends on your goals. Take the 60-second quiz for a pick tailored to your goals.
Saccharomyces Boulardii wins 2 of 3 categories. Both are solid choices — the best pick depends on your specific goals.
Verdict
Too few graded studies
Top outcomes
Verdict
Likely helps
4 of 4 studies with measurable effects showed benefit.
Top outcomes
300-500 mg extract daily during illness (the cited trials used 500 mg of extract a day in capsules, or 15 ml of syrup four times a day). Label products go up to 900 mg, above that dose.
At first sign of symptoms, Multiple times daily during illness
Standardized extract (syrup or capsules)
250-500mg (5-10 billion CFU) daily
With or without food, At least 2 hours away from antifungals
Capsules (lyophilized)
When taken at symptom onset
During illness
During use
1-3 days
1-2 weeks
Genus Sambucus: Exploring Its Potential as a Functional Food Ingredient with Neuroprotective Properties Mediated by Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Mechanisms
International journal of molecular sciences (2024) · Review
In vivo studies using animal models of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, have shown that Sambucus compounds can improve cognitive function, motor performance, and neuronal survival while attenuating neuroinflammation and oxidative damage.
Label compliance for ingredient verification: regulations, approaches, and trends for testing botanical products marketed for "immune health" in the United States
Critical reviews in food science and nutrition (2024) · Review
Narrative review of US regulations and testing methods for verifying ingredient claims on botanical products sold for immune health, with elderberry, turmeric and functional mushrooms as examples.
Select Dietary Supplement Ingredients for Preserving and Protecting the Immune System in Healthy Individuals: A Systematic Review
Nutrients (2022) · Systematic review
Immune health products represent approximately 10% of all US dietary supplement sales.
Efficacy and safety of Saccharomyces boulardii as an adjuvant therapy for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori: a meta-analysis
Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology (2025) · Meta analysis · n=5036
Meta-analysis of 19 studies with 5,036 people with H. pylori infection, adding S. boulardii to standard eradication therapy.
Probiotics for treating acute infectious diarrhoea
The Cochrane database of systematic reviews (2020) · Meta analysis · n=12127
Effect size was similar in the sensitivity analysis and marked heterogeneity persisted.
The use of probiotics and prebiotics in decolonizing pathogenic bacteria from the gut; a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical outcomes
Gut microbes (2024) · Meta analysis · n=2871
This review aims to analyze available evidence from human-controlled trials to determine the effect size of probiotic interventions in decolonizing AMR pathogenic bacteria from the gut.
Both points come from a meta-analysis of 10 randomised trials adding S. boulardii to bismuth quadruple therapy (PMID 40251486), whose dose subgroups found the same gain in eradication at 500 mg a day (RR 1.10, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.17) and 1000 mg a day (RR 1.08, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.12). Effectiveness is the relative gain in eradication in percent. Total adverse effects fell with S. boulardii (RR 0.53), so the side effect values are low. The authors recommend 500 mg a day for more than 10 days. The effect is as an add-on to antibiotics only, and doses are in mg of product, not CFU.
AI-estimated from published studies. Interpret as directional guidance.
Saccharomyces Boulardii has a higher evidence score (8.5/10 vs 6/10) and wins in 2 of 3 categories.
For support immune system, Elderberry has a higher relevance score (80 vs 60).
No documented interaction was found in the data searched. This does not establish that this exact combination is safe.
The right pick depends on your goals. Answer a few quick questions for a personalised recommendation — or dig into the full evidence on each.