Chanika Manmontri1,2, Areerat Nirunsittirat2,3, Supatcharin Piwat4,5, Onnida Wattanarat1,2, Nuntiya Pahumunto4,6, Anupong Makeudom2, Thanapat Sastraruji2, Suttichai Krisanaprakornkit2,7, Rawee Teanpaisan8,9. 1. Division of Pediatric Dentistry, Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand. 2. Center of Excellence in Oral and Maxillofacial Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand. 3. Division of Community Dentistry, Department of Family and Community Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand. 4. Common Oral Diseases and Epidemiology Research Center, Faculty of Dentistry, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90112, Thailand. 5. Department of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90112, Thailand. 6. Department of Stomatology, Faculty of Dentistry, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90112, Thailand. 7. Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand. 8. Common Oral Diseases and Epidemiology Research Center, Faculty of Dentistry, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90112, Thailand. rawee.t@psu.ac.th. 9. Department of Stomatology, Faculty of Dentistry, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90112, Thailand. rawee.t@psu.ac.th.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of probiotics, Lactobacillus paracasei SD1, on the quantities of Streptococcus mutans in saliva and plaque samples of preschool children. DESIGN: This randomized trial recruited 487 preschool children from eight childcare centers. Participants were assigned to receive a 6-month course of placebo milk daily (group I), probiotic milk either daily (group II) or three days a week (triweekly, group III). The absolute quantities of S. mutans and total lactobacilli in the saliva and plaque samples at baseline (T0), after intervention (T6), and 6 months after discontinuation (T12) were assessed by qPCR. RESULTS: Of 487 children, 354 completed all follow-up periods. However, only 268 children (3.2 ± 0.8 years old; groups I = 86, II = 89, and III = 93) providedadequate saliva for qPCR. Whereas the quantities of S. mutans were significantly decreased in groups II and III compared to group I in the saliva and plaque samples at T6 and T12, those of total lactobacilli were significantly increased (p < 0.0167). There was no difference in the quantities of S. mutans or total lactobacilli between groups II and III at any period. Significant changes in the quantities of S. mutans and total lactobacilli lasted until T12 compared to T0 (p < 0.0167). CONCLUSIONS: Probiotic administration daily or triweekly reduces S. mutans quantities, whereas it increases total lactobacilli quantities that persists at least 6 months after discontinuation in the saliva and plaque samples of preschool children. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Daily or triweekly consumption of L. paracasei SD1 supplemented in milk may help prevent dental caries in preschool children.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of probiotics, Lactobacillus paracasei SD1, on the quantities of Streptococcus mutans in saliva and plaque samples of preschool children. DESIGN: This randomized trial recruited 487 preschool children from eight childcare centers. Participants were assigned to receive a 6-month course of placebo milk daily (group I), probiotic milk either daily (group II) or three days a week (triweekly, group III). The absolute quantities of S. mutans and total lactobacilli in the saliva and plaque samples at baseline (T0), after intervention (T6), and 6 months after discontinuation (T12) were assessed by qPCR. RESULTS: Of 487 children, 354 completed all follow-up periods. However, only 268 children (3.2 ± 0.8 years old; groups I = 86, II = 89, and III = 93) provided adequate saliva for qPCR. Whereas the quantities of S. mutans were significantly decreased in groups II and III compared to group I in the saliva and plaque samples at T6 and T12, those of total lactobacilli were significantly increased (p < 0.0167). There was no difference in the quantities of S. mutans or total lactobacilli between groups II and III at any period. Significant changes in the quantities of S. mutans and total lactobacilli lasted until T12 compared to T0 (p < 0.0167). CONCLUSIONS: Probiotic administration daily or triweekly reduces S. mutans quantities, whereas it increases total lactobacilli quantities that persists at least 6 months after discontinuation in the saliva and plaque samples of preschool children. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Daily or triweekly consumption of L. paracasei SD1 supplemented in milk may help prevent dental caries in preschool children.