Probiotics Partly Suppress the Impact of Sugar Stress on the Oral Microbiota—A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Abstract

<p>The aim was to test if probiotics counteract oral dysbiosis during 14 days of sugar stress and subsequently help restore oral homeostasis. Eighty healthy individuals received either probiotics (<em>n</em> = 40) or placebo lozenges (<em>n</em> = 40) for 28 days and rinsed with a 10% sucrose solution 6-8 times during the initial 14 days of the trial. Saliva and supragingival samples were collected at baseline, day 14, and day 28. Saliva samples were analyzed for levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, albumin, and salivary enzyme activity. The supragingival microbiota was characterized according to the Human Oral Microbiome Database. After 14 days of sugar stress, the relative abundance of <em>Porphyromonas</em> species was significantly higher (<em>p</em> = 0.03) and remained significantly elevated at day 28 in the probiotic group compared to the placebo group (<em>p</em> = 0.004). At day 28, the relative abundance of <em>Kingella</em> species was significantly higher in the probiotic group (<em>p</em> = 0.03). <em>Streptococcus gordinii</em> and <em>Neisseria elongata</em> were associated with the probiotic group on day 28, while <em>Streptococcus sobrinus</em> was associated with the placebo group on day 14 and day 28. On day 28, the salivary albumin level was significantly lower in the probiotic group. The present study demonstrates a potential stabilizing effect on the supragingival microbiota mediated by consumption of probiotics during short-term sugar stress.<br></p>