Effects of lactoferrin and lactoperoxidase ‐containing food on the oral microbiota in the elderly

Abstract The oral microbiota influences health and disease states. Some Gram‐negative anaerobic bacteria play an important role in tissue destruction associated with periodontal disease. Lactoferrin (LF) and lactoperoxidase (LPO) are antimicrobial proteins found in saliva; however, their influence on the whole oral microbiota currently remains unknown. We herein assessed the effects of the long‐term ingestion of LF‐ and LPO‐containing tablets on the microbiota of supragingival plaque and tongue coating in a randomized, double‐blinded, placebo‐controlled study. Forty‐six elderly subjects ingested placebo or test tablets after every meal for 8 weeks. The relative abundance of bacterial species was assessed by 16S rRNA gene high‐throughput sequencing. Most of the bacterial species in supragingival plaque and tongue coating that exhibited significant decreases in the test group were Gram‐negative bacteria including periodontal pathogens. The decrease in the total relative abundance of Gram‐negative group in supragingival plaque and tongue coating correlated with improvements in the parameters of the oral health assessment such as oral malodor and plaque accumulation. Furthermore, the microbiota diversity of supragingival plaque at 8 weeks was significantly lower in the test group than in the placebo group, and low microbiota diversity correlated with improvements in the parameters of the oral health assessment. These results suggest that LF‐ and LPO‐contai...
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - Category: Microbiology Authors: Tags: Original Article Source Type: research