DNA-PCR and CRT Results in Children After Probiotic Use

Objectives: This IRB approved clinical trial was to determine the effect of “over the counter” probiotic supplements on  Caries Risk Test (Ivoclar) and DNA-PCR analysis. 

Methods: Sixty subjects 6 to 12 years old with a caries risk assessment (CAMBRA) of moderate to high (caries prone) was evaluated by an analysis of the difference in the salivary levels of pathogenic bacteria Group A used PerioBalance Lactobacilli reuteri (CFU of 200 million) lozenges for 28 days. Group B used the EvoraKids Plus Probiotics chewable tablets. Salivary samples were collected and incubated for 48 hours for colony counting and ranking. Extra saliva was obtained and subjected to DNA-PCR analysis with an Applied Biosystems 7900HT utilizing a Streptococcus mutans primer set from Primer Designs (glucosyltransferase-I (gtfb) gene) genesig LTD. Follow up testing with the DNA-PCR and CRT was performed at the six to eight week visit.

Results: The CRT demonstrated a significant difference between the pre and post use of the probiotics. PerioBalance; SM results t= -6.78, p< .0001 Lactobacilli results t= -5.762, p< .0001 , EvoraKids SM results t= -7.33, p< .0001, Lactobacilli results t= -2.952, p= .0068. The DNA-PCR analysis of the Streptococcus mutans levels before and after probiotic usage, however, did not demonstrate any statistically significant changes possibly due to unexpected degradation of some samples.

Conclusions: the CRT values obtained with caries prone children may be significantly affected by probiotic use.