Lactobacillus paracasei DSMZ16671 Reduces Mutans Streptococci: A Short-Term Pilot Study

Abstract

Reducing the burden of pathogenic mutans streptococci is a goal of oral health. Lactobacillus paracasei DSMZ16671, even after heat-killing, specifically co-aggregates mutans streptococci in vitro and retains this activity in human saliva. In rats, it reduces mutans streptococcal colonization of teeth and caries scores. This pilot study sought to assess the potential of heat-killed L. paracasei DSMZ16671 (pro-t-action®) to reduce levels of salivary mutans streptococci in humans, using sugar-free candies as a delivery vehicle. A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind in vivo study of three groups examined the short-term effect of sugar-free candies containing 0 (placebo), 1, or 2 mg/candy piece of heat-killed L. paracasei DSMZ16671 on the levels of salivary mutans streptococci determined before and after consumption of the candies. The candies were consumed 4 times during 1.5 consecutive days. Compared to the placebo group, the test groups’ saliva had significantly reduced mutans streptococci as an immediate effect. These results suggest the use of heat-killed L. paracasei DSMZ16671 in suckable candies as a method to reduce mutans streptococci in the mouth and, thereby, caries risk. We think this a new concept and strategy for caries prevention and management.

Effect of the Probiotic <b><i>Lactobacillus rhamnosus</i></b> LB21<b> </b>on the Cariogenicity of <b><i>Streptococcus mutans</i></b> UA159 in a Dual-Species Biofilm Model

“…Several studies use proxy markers for the efficacy of the probiotic, i.e. salivary counts of S. mutans [Nase et al, 2001;Ahola et al, 2002;Nikawa et al, 2004;Juneja and Kakade, 2012;Holz et al, 2013;Campus et al, 2014;Teanpaisan and Piwat, 2014], biofilm counts of S. mutans [Nase et al, 2001] or a reduction in plaque acidogenicity [Campus et al, 2014]. Despite the obvious limitations of an in vitro model, our approach mimics a clinically relevant situation, where probiotics are presented to metabolically active bacterial biofilms adhered to enamel.…”

“…Most of the studies have focused on the mechanism of action of the probiotics, essentially on the reduction of Streptococcus mutans counts [Laleman et al, 2014]. Even in clinical studies, end points are usually indirect measurements such as a reduction of S. mutans in saliva [Nase et al, 2001;Ahola et al, 2002;Nikawa et al, 2004;Juneja and Kakade, 2012;Holz et al, 2013;Campus et al, 2014;Teanpaisan and Piwat, 2014], a reduction of S. mutans in the biofilm [Nase et al, 2001] or a reduction in plaque acidogenicity [Campus et al, 2014] and not the resulting effect on mineralized tissues. In only few studies, the administration of Lactobacillus rhamnosus has shown a reduction in caries prevalence in children Stensson et al, 2014] and in older adults when combined with fluoride [Petersson et al, 2011].…”

Antimicrobial Effect of Lactobacillus reuteri on Cariogenic Bacteria Streptococcus gordonii, Streptococcus mutans, and Periodontal Diseases Actinomyces naeslundii and Tannerella forsythia

“…L. paracasei GMNL-33 is proposed as a strategy for caries prevention and management [31]. L. paracasei DSMZ16671 was used in a pilot study under the form of sugar-free candies, showing that their consumption reduces up to 86.6 % (±0.1) of S. mutans in human saliva [32].…”

Rol de los Probióticos como Bacterioterapia en Odontología. Revisión de la Literatura

“…Aumenta significativamente el pH salival Lactobacillus acidophilus (2) Reduce de forma significativa los niveles de Streptococcus mutans en la saliva Lactobacillus acidophilus (2) Lactobacillus reuteri (6,10,12,13,19) Lactobacillus rhamnosus (13,19) Lactobacillus rhamnosus LRH08: Además, los resultados clínicos de este estudio mostraron una disminución estadísticamente significativa de la incidencia de nuevas lesiones de caries y una disminución de individuos con nuevas lesiones de caries (17) Lactobacillus paracasei cepas SD1 y DSMZ 16671 (19,(22)(23)(24) Lactobacillus paracasei subespecie casei, Lactobacillus acidophillus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus y Bifidobacterium: combinación de cepas probióticas en el yogurt Laive (25) Adhesión a perlas de hidroxiapatita (Competencia por un sitio en el esmalte con el Streptococcus sobrinus) Streptococcus thermophilus y Lactococcus lactis (2) 56 voluntarios sanos, entre 25 y 66 años, basándose en los siguientes parámetros: la bacteria no debía producir VSC (compuestos volátiles de azufre), debía tener actividad antibacteriana frente a patógenos que causan la enfermedad periodontal y caries dental, debía tener adhesión a la hidroxiapatita recubierta con saliva y a las células epiteliales orales in vitro, no debía tener un potencial cariogénico en un sistema de boca artificial y no debía producir riesgo de endocarditis infecciosa en un modelo de rata. En base a estos parámetros los mejores candidatos para ser probados en un ensayo clínico aleatorio con humanos serían: L. crispatus YIT 12319, L. fermentum YIT 12320, L. gasseri YIT 12321, 12322 y S. mitis YIT (20) .…”

“…En vista de estos antecedentes las investigaciones que se vienen realizando en los últimos años se enfocan sobre el control de los microorganismos patógenos a través de la bacterioterapia con el uso de probióticos (primer enfoque) y realizando cambios ecológicos favorables para el medio bucal perturbado, tales como aumentar el pH local e incrementar el flujo salival (segundo enfoque) (2,13) . Existen una serie de ensayos clínicos aleatorios que indican que los probióticos de cepas de Lactobacillus y Bifidobacterium pueden ejercer un efecto antagonista sobre Streptococcus mutans (principal especie bacteriana causal de la caries dental) (8,(10)(11)(12)(13)17,19,(22)(23)(24)(25) . Sin embargo, una reducción a corto plazo en el recuento de los Streptococcus mutans no necesariamente está asociada a menos caries o riesgo reducido de caries.…”