Oral colonization by Levilactobacillus brevis KABPTM-052 and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum KABPTM-051: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial (Pilot Study)

Abstract

Background: To determine the oral colonization capacity of the strains Levilactobacillus brevis KABPTM-052 (CECT 7480) and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum KABPTM-051 (CECT 7481) in healthy subjects.

Material and methods: This randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study included 40 volunteers (22 females, 18 males; age range 18-55 years) with healthy gingiva or mild gingivitis, allocated to receiving probiotic chewing gum (n=20) or placebo (n=20) b.i.d for 6 weeks. At baseline and after 6 weeks of treatment, a periodontics specialist collected saliva samples to assess probiotic colonization by qPCR, and analysed dental plaque, gingival index and dental probing pocket depth in Community Periodontal Index (CPI) teeth subset. Protocol was registered as NCT03540498.

Results: Treatment compliance was high (99%). Both L. brevis and L. plantarum were detected in the oral microbiota at baseline. After 6 weeks, volunteers receiving probiotic showed a significant increase of both L. brevis (p = 0.017) and L. plantarum (p = 0.004) versus placebo. This effect remained significant after adjusting for gender and gingival index at baseline. In the probiotic group, reduction in plaque index significantly correlated to higher levels of L. brevis (rho = 0.57, p = 0.022) but not of L. plantarum at study endpoint, and the number of subjects with dental plaque was reduced during intervention (7 of 17, p = 0.016). No such effects were observed in the placebo group. No adverse drug reactions were reported.

Conclusions: Levilactobacillus brevis KABPTM-052 and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum KABPTM-051 colonize the buccal microbiota of healthy volunteers, and higher colonization by L. brevis positively correlated to reduction in dental plaque. Key words:Probiotic, Levilactobacillus brevis, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, oral colonization, oral microbiota, dental plaque.

Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest EA, DB, PH and JE are full-time employees of AB-Biotics SA. The other authors have no conflict of interest.

Copyright: © 2021 Medicina Oral S.L.

Figures

Figure 1

Participant CONSORT flowchart showing the number of participants who were randomly assigned, received intended treatment and were analysed.

Figure 2

Colonization of AB-Dentalac strains and effect on evolution of dental plaque. A: Mean and SE of L. brevis at baseline and end of study from buccal samples of volunteers treated with probiotic (orange bars) or placebo (blue bars), repeated measures p=0.017 for probiotic vs placebo. B: Mean and SE of L. plantarum at baseline and end of study from buccal samples of volunteers treated with probiotic or placebo, repeated measures p = 0.004 for probiotic vs placebo. C: Correlation between dental plaque change (mean PII change) and levels of L. brevis (Log of DNA copies). Spearman rho = 0.57; p = 0.022. D: Evolution of dental plaque measured as the percentage of subjects “cured”, “worsen” or “without changes” in placebo and probiotic groups; 41% net reduction of plaque in probiotic group, in 7 out of 17 volunteers (p = 0.016).