Short-term effect of ice-cream containing Bifidobacterium lactis Bb-12 on the number of salivary mutans streptococci and lactobacilli.
OBJECTIVE
Probiotic bacteria are thought to reduce the risk of some infectious diseases. The aim of the present study was to examine whether or not short-term consumption of ice-cream containing bifidobacteria can affect the salivary levels of mutans streptococci and lactobacilli in young adults.


METHODS
A double-blind, randomized crossover study was performed and 24 healthy subjects (mean age 20 years) were followed over 4 periods. During periods 2 and 4 (10 days each), they ingested 100 ml (53 g) ice-cream containing Bifidobacterium lactis Bb-12 once daily or a control ice-cream without viable bacteria. Periods 1 and 3 were run-in and washout periods, respectively. Salivary mutans streptococci and lactobacilli were enumerated with chair-side kits at baseline and immediately after the intervention period.


RESULTS
A statistically significant reduction (p<0.05) of salivary mutans streptococci was recorded after consumption of the probiotic ice-cream. A decline of high mutans streptococci counts was also seen after intake of the control ice-cream, but the difference compared to baseline was not statistically significant. The salivary lactobacilli levels were unaltered after both regimes.


CONCLUSIONS
Daily consumtion of ice-cream containing probiotic bifidobacteria may reduce the salivary levels of mutans streptococci in young adults.
Department of Paediatric Dentistry, Dental School, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Esber
E
Caglar
Ozgur Onder
OO
Kuscu
Senem
S
Selvi Kuvvetli
Sule
S
Kavaloglu Cildir
Nuket
N
Sandalli
Svante
S
Twetman
D000328:Adult; D000898:Antibiosis / Q000502:physiology*; D001644:Bifidobacterium; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007054:Ice Cream / Q000382:microbiology; D007778:Lactobacillus; D008297:Male; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012016:Reference Values; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology*; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000302:isolation & purification
D002327:Cariostatic Agents