Probiotic compared with standard milk for high-caries children: a cluster randomized trial

A selection of abstracts of clinically relevant papers from other journals. The abstracts on this page have been chosen and edited by John R. Radford. The papers summarised in this issue of the BDJ have been selected from those ten most read published during 2016 in J Dent Res (Impact Factor 4.062 and ranked second in dentistry). Most of these papers explore the oral sciences. Those included in this section, have an increased focus on the practice of dentistry (one paper has been previously summarised in the Br Dent J – DOI: 10.1038/sj.bdj.2016.598).

Abstract

As L. rhamnosus is cleared rapidly from the mouth, any effect that this probiotic has in reducing caries is such that it should be taken daily.

Main

Rodríguez G, Ruiz B et al. J Dent Res 2016; 95: 402–407

It is claimed that L. rhamnosus, the super probiotic, can be used to treat a host of problems from urogenital tract infections to peanut allergies and anxiety. This was a triple-blind, placebo-controlled cluster randomised trial (groups of subjects, as opposed to individual subjects, are randomised), carried out in Chile. The aim was to compare the caries increment in preschool children in those who took milk supplemented with this probiotic versus a standard milk. The investigators found 'the regular long-term intake of probiotic-supplemented milk may reduce caries development in high-caries preschool children.' Plausibility for the effect of probiotics is in abundance: 'combined local and systemic effects that involve adhesion, coaggregation, competitive inhibition, production of organic acids and bacteriocin-like compounds, and immune modulation.'