Clinical effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus probiotics in the treatment of chronic periodontitis: A 1- year follow- up study

Objectives: The objetive of this study was to evaluate clinical effects of Lactobacillus rhamnosus- containing probiotic powder for oral suspension as an adjunct treatment to periodontal therapy for chronic periodontitis patients.
Methods: Randomized placebo- controlled clinical trials was conducted. Twenty- eight chronic periodontitis patients were recruited and monitored clinically at baseline and 12 months after scaling and root planing. Examination consisted of full mouth probing pocket depth (PPD), gingival recession, clinical attachment level (CAL), plaque index (PI) and bleeding on probing (BOP), measured at six sites per tooth. Also, “risk for disease progression” was defined at the patient level (Lang & Tonetti, 2003).
All patients received scaling and root planing (SRP) and randomly assigned over a test (SRP + probiotic, n=14) or control (SRP + placebo, n=14) group. Powder for oral suspension containing L. rhamnosus SP1 (Macro Food S.A.) or placebo was used once a day for 3 months. All subjects received supportive periodontal therapy every 3 months.
Results: No statistically significant differences were observed between groups for any parameters evaluated at baseline. Both therapies equally reduced clinical parameters. In SRP + probiotic group, there was a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in the number of patients with PPD ≥ 6mm. Analysing data according to the individual risk profile for periodontal disease progression, revealed that significantly more patients had a low risk for disease progression when they received the SRP + probiotic treatment.
All patients entering the study completed it. No compliance problems were noted and no adverse effects were mentioned by patients.
Conclusions: Oral administration of Lactobacillus rhamnosus SP1 could be a useful adjunt to SRP in patients with chronic periodontitis who received supportive periodontal therapy.