Effects of oral administration of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis HN019 on the treatment of plaque-induced generalized gingivitis

Objectives This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluated the adjuvant effects of Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 on the treatment of plaque-induced generalized gingivitis. Materials and methods Sixty patients were submitted to professional supragingival scaling and prophylaxis. They were randomly assigned to test (probiotic lozenges containing B. lactis HN019, n = 30) or control (placebo lozenges, n = 30) groups. Lozenges were consumed twice a day for 8 weeks. Bleeding on probing (BoP), Gingival Index (GI), Plaque Index (PI), probing depth (PD), and clinical attachment level (CAL) were evaluated at baseline and after 2 and 8 weeks. Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) was collected at baseline and at 8 weeks for analysis of the inflammatory mediators IL-1β, IL-1α, IL-8, MCP-1, and MIP-1β. Data were statistically analyzed ( p < 0.05). Results After 8 weeks, both groups showed reduction in the percentage of PI, with no significant difference between groups ( p = 0.7423). The test group presented a lower percentage of BoP and a higher percentage of sites with GI ≤ 1 when compared with the control group at the end of the study ( p < 0.0001). At 8 weeks, the test group had a greater number of patients without generalized gingivitis than the control group (20 and 11 patients, respectively; p < 0.05). The test group presented significantly lower levels of IL-1α, IL-1β, and MCP-1 in GCF than the control group at the end of the study ( p < 0.05). Conclusion The adjunct use of B. lactis HN019 promotes additional clinical and immunological benefits in the treatment of generalized gingivitis. Clinical relevance B. lactis HN019 can be an efficient and side-effect-free adjunct strategy in the treatment of generalized gingivitis.