Multi-Strain Probiotic Supplementation with a Product Containing Human-Native S. salivarius K12 in Healthy Adults Increases Oral S. salivarius.

Karina Cernioglo,Jennifer T Smilowitz,David A Mills,Anna Meier,Karen M Kalanetra,Mark A Underwood,Zachery T Lewis

doi:10.3390/nu13124392

Karina Cernioglo, Jennifer T Smilowitz + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13124392

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Abstract

Streptococcus salivarius (S. salivarius) K12 supplementation has been found to reduce the risk of recurrent upper respiratory tract infections. Yet, studies have not reported the effect of supplementation on oral S. salivarius K12 levels or the salivary microbiome. This clinical trial was designed to determine how supplementation with S. salivarius K12 influences the oral microbiome. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 13 healthy adults received a probiotic powder (PRO) containing Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium lactis, and S. salivarius K12 and 12 healthy adults received a placebo-control powder (CON) (n = 12) for 14 consecutive days. Oral S. salivarius K12 and total bacteria were quantified by qPCR and the overall oral microbiome was measured using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Supplementation significantly increased mean salivary S. salivarius K12 levels by 5 logs compared to baseline for the PRO group (p < 0.0005), which returned to baseline 2 weeks post-supplementation. Compared with the CON group, salivary S. salivarius K12 was 5 logs higher in the PRO group at the end of the supplementation period (p < 0.001). Neither time nor supplementation influenced the overall oral microbiome. Supplementation with a probiotic cocktail containing S. salivarius K12 for two weeks significantly increased levels of salivary S. salivarius K12.

Highlights

Probiotics—defined by the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics as “live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host”—are widely used to support the health of the gastrointestinal tract [1]
This study is the first double-blind, randomized placebo-control trial to demonstrate that probiotic supplementation of S. salivarius K12 significantly increases levels of salivary
S. salivarius K12 supplementation for two weeks was well tolerated by the study population with the exception of one participant who experienced hives during supplementation which disappeared when supplementation ceased

Summary

Introduction

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Probiotics—defined by the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics as “live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host”—are widely used to support the health of the gastrointestinal tract [1]. Most probiotic strains are selected for, delivered to, and investigated for their impact on the gastrointestinal tract, probiotic strains may be targeted to reside in and/or benefit other organ systems such as the reproductive tract, oral cavity, lungs, skin, and gut–brain axis. Streptococcus salivarius, a prominent member of the oral microbiota, has been identified as a safe and effective probiotic targeting oral health [2]

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