title: Enhancement of salivary human neutrophil peptide 1-3 levels by probiotic supplementation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Probiotic supplementation can reduce mutans streptococci (MS) numbers. One of its proposed mechanisms is immunomodulation. Salivary human neutrophil peptide 1-3 (HNP1-3) levels have previously been demonstrated to be higher in caries-free than in caries-susceptible children, suggesting their preventive role against caries. We aimed to compare salivary HNP1-3 levels between an intervention group with probiotics and a control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized double-blinded clinical trial was conducted. Sixty schoolchildren were equally allocated to either an intervention or control group. The use of a probiotic strain, Lactobacillus paracasei SD1, has shown to reduce MS numbers in volunteers. In unstimulated whole saliva, HNP1-3 levels were assayed by ELISA, and MS and lactobacilli counts were assayed by colony counting at baseline (T0) and at 3 (T3), 6 (T6), and 12 months (T12). The International Caries Detection and Assessment system was used to assess caries status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the intervention group, salivary HNP1-3 levels were significantly greater than those in the control group at T3 and T6 (p < 0.001), whereas MS counts were significantly decreased (p < 0.01). In the intervention group, positive and negative correlations were found between HNP1-3 levels and lactobacilli counts and between MS and lactobacilli counts, respectively. However, there was no significant correlation between enhanced HNP1-3 levels and decreased MS numbers. The caries increment for the pit and fissure surface, but not for the smooth surfaces, was significantly decreased in the intervention group compared with the control group (p = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Probiotics can temporarily enhance salivary HNP1-3 levels; however, their action to reduce new pit and fissure caries probably involves microbial interactions.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  TCTR20130904001 (registration date: September 04, 2013).
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand. onni076@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Onnida
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Wattanarat
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand. mommam_bom@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Anupong
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Makeudom
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence in Oral and Maxillofacial Biology, Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand. s_thanapat@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Thanapat
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sastraruji
authors.affiliation: Common Oral Diseases and Epidemiology Research Center, Faculty of Dentistry, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, 90112, Thailand. supacharin.p@psu.ac.th.|Department of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, 90112, Thailand. supacharin.p@psu.ac.th.
authors.forename: Supatcharin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Piwat
authors.affiliation: Common Oral Diseases and Epidemiology Research Center, Faculty of Dentistry, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, 90112, Thailand. sukanya.ti@psu.ac.th.|Rural Oral Health Center of Southern Thailand, Faculty of Dentistry, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, 90112, Thailand. sukanya.ti@psu.ac.th.|Department of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, 90112, Thailand. sukanya.ti@psu.ac.th.
authors.forename: Sukanya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tianviwat
authors.affiliation: Common Oral Diseases and Epidemiology Research Center, Faculty of Dentistry, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, 90112, Thailand. rawee.t@psu.ac.th.|Department of Stomatology, Faculty of Dentistry, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, 90112, Thailand. rawee.t@psu.ac.th.
authors.forename: Rawee
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Teanpaisan
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence in Oral and Maxillofacial Biology, Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand. suttichai.k@cmu.ac.th.
authors.forename: Suttichai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Krisanaprakornkit
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D058491:Bacterial Load; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003733:Dental Caries Susceptibility; D003750:Dental Fissures / Q000209:etiology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000069980:Lacticaseibacillus paracasei / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D056265:Microbial Interactions; D010919:Placebos; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000032:analysis*; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D023084:alpha-Defensins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D010919:Placebos; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides; D023084:alpha-Defensins; C406413:human neutrophil peptide 1; C406416:human neutrophil peptide 2; C406427:human neutrophil peptide 3