title: Daily Intake of Heat-killed Lactobacillus plantarum L-137 Decreases the Probing Depth in Patients Undergoing Supportive Periodontal Therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Heat-killed Lactobacillus plantarum L-137 (HK L-137) has been shown to activate innate and acquired immunity in humans. The aim of this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was to examine the effects of the oral administration of HK L-137 on the outcome of periodontal therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-nine patients undergoing supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) were randomly assigned to receive a capsule containing 10 mg of HK L-137 or a placebo capsule daily for 12 weeks. Nineteen patients in the experimental group and 17 patients in the control group were followed-up. Clinical parameters, including plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), bleeding on probing (BOP), and probing depth (PD) were scored at baseline and weeks 4, 8 and 12 prior to prophylaxis in conjunction with regular SPT visits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BOP and the number of teeth or sites with PD ≥ 4 mm were significantly reduced in both groups by a successive SPT programme, while there was significantly greater PD reduction (p < 0.05) at teeth with site(s) with PD ≥ 4 mm at baseline in the experimental group than in the control group at week 12.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These clinical findings suggest that daily HK L-137 intake can decrease the depth of periodontal pockets in patients undergoing supportive periodontal therapy.
authors.forename: Kazuto
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iwasaki
authors.forename: Kenta
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.forename: Kouki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hidaka
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nemoto
authors.forename: Yoshitaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hirose
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Deguchi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D003777:Dental Prophylaxis / Q000379:methods; D012534:Dental Scaling / Q000379:methods; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D048191:Lactiplantibacillus plantarum; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000193:education; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000628:therapy*; D010919:Placebos; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos