The use of probiotics for control of the prevalence of oral Candida in total edentulous patients

Probiotics are live microorganisms that confer benefits to the health of an individual when administered in adequate amounts. In addition to promoting an improvement in a gastrointestinal system, the probiotics are known for their ability to inhibit the growth of pathogenic microorganisms. The present study sought to evaluate the capacity of probiotics strains in reducing the prevalence of oral Candida in denture wearers. For this study, the by-product was elaborated containing probiotics, such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus acidophilus. The study protocol was randomized, double-blind, being that the subjects of the research were randomly sorted into two groups: experimental (probiotics) and control (placebo). The participants utilized the product daily for five weeks and the result was evaluated according to the amount of yeasts isolated in colony-forming units (CFU), before and after the intervention. In parallel to this clinical phase, the action of other Lactobacillus strains were tested in vitro, with the purpose of verifying the relation between the strain of Lactobacillus and the reduction of Candida species isolated from the palate and the prostheses, as well as, with the sensitivity to antifungal agents, miconazole and nystatin. The production of bacteriocins is one of the main mechanisms of action by Lactobacillus spp. against pathogens, and was analised. The results imply that the strains of tested probiotics: in vivo, were effective in reducing the prevalence of oral Candida for denture wearers; in vitro, inhibited the growth of Candida sp, being that L. rhamnosus Lr-32 was the best resulting strain, and the strains did not produce bacteriocins when in contact with yeast.