Effects of a food enriched with probiotics on Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus spp. salivary counts in preschool children: a cluster randomized trial.
- 2018-05-14
- Journal of applied oral science : revista FOB 26(0)
- Judy Villavicencio
- Lina Maria Villegas
- Maria Cristina Arango
- Susana Arias
- Francia Triana
- PubMed: 29768525
- DOI: 10.1590/1678-7757-2017-0318
Study Design
- Type
- Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
- Population
- 363 preschoolers aged 3-4 years in Cali, Colombia
- Methods
- Triple-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial; intervention: 200 mL milk with Lactobacillus rhamnosus 5x10^6 CFU and Bifidobacterium longum 3x10^6 CFU on weekdays; control: 200 mL standard milk; duration 9 months.
- Blinding
- Triple-blind
- Duration
- 9 months
- Funding
- Unclear
Probiotics have provided benefits to general health, but they are still insufficient to dental health. This study aimed to evaluate milk supplemented with probiotic bacteria and standard milk, measured by levels of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) and Lactobacillus spp., in 3-4-year-old children after 9 months of intervention. The study was a triple-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial. The sample was composed of 363 preschoolers attending five child development centers in Cali, Colombia. They were randomized to two groups: children in the intervention group drank 200 mL of milk with Lactobacillus rhamnosus 5x106 and Bifidobacteruim longum 3x106, and children in the control group drank 200 mL of standard milk. Interventions occurred on weekdays and information was gathered through scheduled clinical examination. The primary result was the number of colony forming units (CFU) of S. mutans and Lactobacillus spp. in the saliva. Secondary results were dental caries, rated by the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS), dental plaque, pH, and salivary buffer capacity. The proportion of S. mutans was lower in the intervention group compared with the control group after 9 months; however, the differences did not reach statistical significance (p=0.173); on the other hand, statistically significant differences between groups were found in the CFU/mL of Lactobacillus spp. (p=0.002). There was not statistically significant difference in the prevalence of dental caries for both groups (p=0.767). Differences between groups were found in the salivary buffering capacity (p=0.000); neither salivary pH nor dental plaque were significantly different. Regular consumption of milk containing probiotics bacteria reduced CFU/mL of Lactobacillus spp. and increased salivary buffering capacity at 9 months of consumption.
Research Insights
Differences between groups were found in the salivary buffering capacity (p=0.000).
- Effect
- Beneficial
- Effect size
- Small
- Dose
- 3×10^6 CFU per 200 mL milk serving
neither salivary pH nor dental plaque were significantly different.
- Effect
- Neutral
- Effect size
- Small
- Dose
- 3×10^6 CFU per 200 mL milk serving
There was not statistically significant difference in the prevalence of dental caries for both groups (p=0.767).
- Effect
- Neutral
- Effect size
- Small
- Dose
- 3×10^6 CFU per 200 mL milk serving
neither salivary pH nor dental plaque were significantly different.
- Effect
- Neutral
- Effect size
- Small
- Dose
- 3×10^6 CFU per 200 mL milk serving
Differences between groups were found in the salivary buffering capacity (p=0.000).
- Effect
- Beneficial
- Effect size
- Small
- Dose
- 3×10^6 CFU per 200 mL milk serving
neither salivary pH nor dental plaque were significantly different.
- Effect
- Neutral
- Effect size
- Small
- Dose
- 3×10^6 CFU per 200 mL milk serving
There was not statistically significant difference in the prevalence of dental caries for both groups (p=0.767).
- Effect
- Neutral
- Effect size
- Small
- Dose
- 3×10^6 CFU per 200 mL milk serving
neither salivary pH nor dental plaque were significantly different.
- Effect
- Neutral
- Effect size
- Small
- Dose
- 3×10^6 CFU per 200 mL milk serving