New study on BLIS K12 probiotic supports oral hygiene benefits in children
A randomized, controlled clinical trial conducted in the Faculty of Dentistry at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran, looked at 208 children, boys and girls, between the ages of 6 and 9. All study participants were selected for exhibiting mild-to-strong oral malodor, as recorded and observed by examiners.
Researchers found that supplementation of BLIS K12 “reduced oral malodor, to varying degrees, in virtually every child,” the company said in a press release.
According to Dr. Joseph L. Evans, executive manager of research and development at Stratum Nutrition, the study used a “gold assessment of oral malodor—a study design that more closely approximates real-world protocols recommended by dentists, and a clinically meaningful group size.”
Study design
Aside from halitosis (bad breath), the participating children in the study were selected based on being healthy with no major medical conditions.
The children were divided into four groups (52 children in each), with each group assigned a designated degree of oral hygiene: Group A, conventional (brushing/flossing) oral hygiene; Group B, conventional oral hygiene plus tongue scraping; Group C, conventional oral hygiene with tongue scraping plus chlorhexidine wash, and Group D, who followed all the oral hygiene routines above plus BLIS K12 probiotic, one slow-dissolving tablet daily containing >1 x 109 colony forming units.
Malodor was assessed using an organoleptic test (OLT), taken for all groups at one week and three months after the initiation of the interventions.
Results
The success of the probiotic was measured mostly by parental satisfaction regarding their child’s halitosis. After the study, 91% of parents whose children were in Group D (the supplement group) were satisfied.
Researchers also scored the breath of Group D participants to be better based on the OLT. The results add to building evidence that K12 may benefit oral hygiene. Back in 2013, two studies looked at K12—both of which found that the probiotic may reduce the reoccurrence of tonsillitis and throat infections.
Expanding use of Blis K12
Its clinical backing is paired by recognition by regulators: Health Canada approved the ingredient for use in supplement products back in 2015, and the FDA had no objections to its GRAS status earlier this year.
A spokesperson for Stratum Nutrition told NutraIngredients-USA that the ingredient appears in over 20 supplement products in the US.
Nena Dockery, technical services manager for Stratum Nutrition, added: “Since BLIS probiotics are designed to function in the oral cavity, lozenges, gums, stick packs and chewable tablets are ideal dosage forms.”
In addition, the no-objection letter from the FDA in response to itsself-affirmed GRAS also means that “BLIS K12 can now be added to a variety of conventional foods, including yogurts and ice cream,” Dockery said.
Source: Oral Health & Preventive Dentistry
Published online ahead of print: doi: 10.3290/j.ohpd.a36521.
Impact of Chlorhexidine Pretreatment Followed by Probiotic Streptococcus salivarius Strain K12 on Halitosis in Children: A Randomised Controlled Clinical Trial.
Authors: Jamali Z, Aminabadi NA, Samiei M, Sighari Deljavan A, Shokravi M, Shirazi S.
