Lozenges with probiotic strains enhance oral immune response and health

Abstract

Objective Probiotics participate in regulating oral microbiota and reducing the prevalence of oral diseases; however, clinical research on probiotics is insufficient. Therefore, in this study, we performed in vitro screening of potential oral protective probiotic strains and then evaluated the clinical efficacy of the selected strains on maintaining oral health. Materials and methods Fifty healthy individuals were recruited and randomly assigned into the placebo group and probiotics group, which included three strains of probiotics, Lactobacillus salivarius subs. salicinius AP‐32, Lactobacillus paracasei ET‐66, and Lactobacillus plantarum LPL28. Each group was blindly administered placebo or probiotics for four weeks. Results Next‐generation sequencing results showed that the oral microbiota of Lactobacillus salivarius in the oral cavity were significantly increased in subjects supplemented with mixed probiotic lozenges. The anti‐bacterial activities of viable probiotics were observed within two weeks. Both IgA levels and Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium abundances in the oral cavity were significantly increased in the experimental groups, along with a reduced formation of plaque. Most participants reported that their oral health conditions and intestinal symptoms had improved. Conclusions Overall, our clinical study suggests that oral probiotic lozenges may enhance oral immunity, modulate oral microbiota, and improve oral health.

Assessing the drug resistance profiles of oral probiotic lozenges

“…While encapsulation technologies and other additives have to some extent improved the viability of probiotics transiting through the gastrointestinal tract [ 103–106 ], their stability under oral conditions such as antimicrobial proteins in the saliva and the inhibitory effects exerted by the native oral microbiota, remain uncertain [ 107–109 ]. Since probiotic lozenges are designed to dissolve gradually in the mouth, it is therefore critical that probiotic bacteria tolerate those conditions long enough for them to adhere on the surfaces of, and colonize, the oral cavity [ 39 , 40 ].…”

“…Intestinal swallowable probiotic supplements in the form of capsules or tablets do not remain in the oral cavity long enough for probiotics to be retained in the mouth. As such, probiotic oral lozenges were developed to deliver probiotics directly to the mouth and enable them to adhere, form biofilms, and colonize oral cavity surfaces [ 39 , 40 ].…”

Viable and Heat-Killed Probiotic Strains Improve Oral Immunity by Elevating the IgA Concentration in the Oral Mucosa

“…Then, AP-32 and ET-66 were inactivated by incubating the viable strains in MRS media at 100 ℃ for 1 h. The probiotic content in the oral tablet was 1 × 10 10 cells/g. The active dosage of heat-killed probiotic oral tablet were following previous published in vitro testing [ 11 ]. All experimental procedures were performed in the laboratory of Bioflag Biotech Co., Ltd. (Tainan, Taiwan).…”

“…The oral pathogen inhibition rate (%) was calculated as follows: (CFU blank control –CFU experimental group )/CFU blank control . The experimental method followed previous published testing [ 11 ].…”

“…Besides, researchers discovered that the oral microbiota and its metabolites may locally influence immunity at the oral barrier [ 10 ]. Previous studies demonstrated the effectiveness of probiotics on the elevating the IgA concentration in the oral mucosa [ 11 ]. Ericson et al demonstrated that chewing gum contained Lactobacillus reuteri participated in the adaptive immune response of healthy subjects by increasing the salivary IgA levels [ 12 ].…”