Improvement of periodontal condition by probiotics with Lactobacillus salivarius WB21: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
OBJECTIVE
This randomized clinical study was designed to evaluate the effect of probiotic intervention using lactobacilli on the periodontal condition of volunteers without severe periodontitis.


METHODS
Freeze-dried Lactobacillus salivarius WB21 (WB21)-containing tablets or a placebo were given to volunteers in a double-blind randomized study. A total of 66 volunteers were finally enrolled and randomly assigned to receive tablets containing WB21 (6.7 x 10(8) CFU) with xylitol or xylitol alone (placebo) three times a day for 8 weeks. Periodontal clinical parameters and whole saliva samples were obtained at baseline (BL), 4 weeks, and the end of the interventional period (8 weeks). Salivary lactoferrin (Lf) levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Lactobacilli in saliva and plaque samples was detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR using 16S rRNA primers.


RESULTS
Periodontal clinical parameters were improved in both groups after an 8-week intervention. Current smokers in the test group showed a significantly greater improvement of plaque index and probing pocket depth from BL when compared with those in the placebo group. Salivary Lf level was also significantly decreased in the test group smokers.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that probiotics could be useful in the improvement/maintenance of oral health in subjects at a high risk of periodontal disease.
Shimauchi
Hidetoshi
H
Division of Periodontology and Endodontology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Dentistry, Japan. simauti@m.tains.tohoku.ac.jp
Mayanagi
Gen
G
Nakaya
Seigo
S
Minamibuchi
Maiko
M
Ito
Yasuhiro
Y
Yamaki
Keiko
K
Hirata
Haruhisa
H
D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007778:Lactobacillus; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012016:Reference Values; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014993:Xylitol / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D013549:Sweetening Agents; D014993:Xylitol