Autolyzed Yeast Extract: Uses and Dosage Recommendations as a Dietary Supplement
Autolyzed yeast extract is primarily used as a flavor enhancer in food products and as a nutritional supplement in animal feed, with limited evidence supporting specific health benefits in humans at standard supplementation doses.
What is Autolyzed Yeast Extract?
Autolyzed yeast extract is derived from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker's yeast) through a process where the yeast cells undergo self-digestion (autolysis). During this process, the yeast's own enzymes break down cellular components, releasing proteins, amino acids, nucleotides, vitamins, and minerals.
Production Methods
Three main methods are used to produce yeast extracts 1:
- Autolysis: Natural self-digestion by the yeast's own enzymes
- Plasmolysis: Using solvents like ethyl acetate to disrupt cell membranes
- Enzymatic hydrolysis: Using external enzymes like Alcalase to break down yeast cells
Research indicates that enzymatic hydrolysis using Alcalase is the most efficient method, yielding higher amounts of soluble solids and proteins compared to autolysis and plasmolysis 1.
Uses of Autolyzed Yeast Extract
1. Food Industry Applications
- Flavor enhancement: Rich in glutamic acid, 5'-GMP and 5'-IMP nucleotides that act synergistically to enhance food flavors 2
- Meat flavor profiles: Used to create various meat flavors in food products 2
- Forms available: Liquid, paste, or powder forms for different food applications 2
2. Animal Feed Applications
- Livestock feed supplement: Used in animal nutrition to improve performance and digestibility 3, 4, 5
- Poultry production: Can improve broiler chicken performance by enhancing intestinal mucosal development 4
- Dairy cow supplementation: May increase feed efficiency without affecting nutrient intake and digestibility 5
3. Nutritional Components
- Protein source: Contains valuable proteins and amino acids 2
- B vitamins: Rich source of B-complex vitamins
- Minerals: Contains various minerals beneficial for nutrition
- β-glucans: Cell wall components with potential health benefits 2
Dosage Recommendations
For Humans:
No specific dosage guidelines for autolyzed yeast extract as a dietary supplement are provided in the available guidelines. However, based on research:
- As a food additive: Generally used in small amounts for flavoring
- As a nutritional supplement: No standardized human dosing exists in the evidence provided
For Animals:
- Lambs: 5 g/animal/day (though this dose showed no significant benefits) 3
- Poultry: 500 mg/kg feed showed positive effects on growth and intestinal health 4
- Dairy cows: 0.625 g/kg dry matter for autolyzed yeast or 0.125 g/kg dry matter for live yeast 5
Safety Considerations
Autolyzed yeast extract is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for use as a food additive 2. However, several considerations should be noted:
- Kidney donors: Not specifically mentioned in guidelines for kidney donors, unlike other supplements that have documented effects 6
- Medication interactions: No specific interactions documented in the provided evidence
- Allergic reactions: Individuals with yeast sensitivities should exercise caution
Limitations and Research Gaps
- Limited human clinical trials evaluating specific health benefits
- Lack of standardized dosing recommendations for human supplementation
- Inconsistent results in animal studies, with some showing no benefits 3
- Need for more research on potential immunomodulatory effects
Conclusion
While autolyzed yeast extract is widely used in the food industry as a flavor enhancer and in animal feed as a nutritional supplement, there is insufficient evidence from the provided guidelines to recommend specific dosages for human supplementation. The product appears to be generally safe as a food additive but lacks robust clinical evidence for therapeutic applications in humans.
Human Medical Consultant Note: This answer is based on the available evidence provided. For specific medical applications, further research would be needed to establish appropriate dosing guidelines.