Lactobacillus paracasei DSMZ16671 Reduces Mutans Streptococci: A Short-Term Pilot Study

The Author(s) 2013. This article is published with open access at Springerlink.com Abstract Reducing the burden of pathogenic mutans streptococci is a goal of oral health. Lactobacillus para-casei DSMZ16671, even after heat-killing, specifically co-aggregates mutans streptococci in vitro and retains this activity in human saliva. In rats, it reduces mutans strep-tococcal colonization of teeth and caries scores. This pilot study sought to assess the potential of heat-killed L. pa-racasei DSMZ16671 (pro-t-action) to reduce levels of salivary mutans streptococci in humans, using sugar-free candies as a delivery vehicle. A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind in vivo study of three groups examined the short-term effect of sugar-free candies con-taining 0 (placebo), 1, or 2 mg/candy piece of heat-killed L. paracasei DSMZ16671 on the levels of salivary mutans streptococci determined before and after consumption of the candies. The candies were consumed 4 times during 1.5 consecutive days. Compared to the placebo group, the test groups ’ saliva had significantly reduced mutans strepto-cocci as an immediate effect. These results suggest the use of heat-killed L. paracasei DSMZ16671 in suckable can-dies as a method to reduce mutans streptococci in the mouth and, thereby, caries risk. We think this a new con-cept and strategy for caries prevention and management