Effect of Probiotic Bacteria on Oral Candida in Frail Elderly

Effect of Probiotic Bacteria (L. Reuteri) on Oral Candida Counts in Frail Elderly

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of daily intake of the probiotic Lactobacillus Reuteri on the prevalence and counts of oral Candida in frail elderly living in nursery homes.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of a twice daily intake of lozenges containing probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri on the prevalence and counts of oral Candida in senior residents living in nursery homes. The material consists of 215 elderly persons (range 60 to 102 years) living in 20 different nursery homes in the County of Kronoberg, situated in the southern parts of Sweden. The subjects were consecutively enrolled after informed consent consisting of verbal and written information directed to the individual as well as to their relatives. The study employed a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled design.

Inclusion Criteria:

• non-smoking
• ability to cooperate with a dental examination and saliva sampling

Exclusion Criteria:

• severe chronic disease, malignancies or ongoing medication with immunosuppressive drugs
• severe dementia or cognitive impairment