New Study Published: Lactobacillus reuteri Prodentis Effective in the Treatment of Periodontitis

STOCKHOLM, November 10, 2010 - The study shows that L. reuteri Prodentis acts synergistically with
standard treatment (scaling and root plaining, SRP) to significantly reduce
probing pocket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment level (CAL) which are the
two most important parameters to assess the severity of periodontitis.
Furthermore L. reuteri Prodentis reveals - as the first probiotic ever -
significant reductions of three different pathogens in patients with chronic
periodontitis. The study also confirms the anti-inflammatory effects of L.
reuteri Prodentis on gum inflammation (gingivitis).

(Photo:
www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20101110/418565 )

Chronic periodontitis occurs in up to 40 % of the adult population. The
standard treatment aims at removing plaque in the dental pockets to reduce
the periodontal pathogens and thereby prevent disease progression.

Thirty chronic periodontitis patients were included in the double blind,
randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial that lasted for 42 days. On day
0 the teeth in one half of the mouth were treated with SRP whereas the teeth
in the other half were left untreated. From day 21 to day 42 the patients
were supplemented with either L. reuteri Prodentis lozenges (1X108 CFU DSM
17938 and 1×108 CFU ATCC PTA 5289) or placebo lozenges twice daily.

The result showed that a combination of L. reuteri Prodentis and SRP was
significantly better than all other modalities in reducing gingivitis and
plaque. Moreover, L. reuteri Prodentis, either alone or following SRP,
significantly reduced the pathogens Aggregibacter actinomycetemcomitans,
Porphyromonas gingivalis and Prevotella intermedia by up to 90 % as compared
to the treatments that did not include L. reuteri Prodentis. The combination
of L. reuteri Prodentis and SRP was also significantly better than SPR alone
in reducing both PPD (p<0.001) and CAL (p<0.001), see attachment.

    - This short-term study proves that L. reuteri Prodentis by itself has a
    powerful effect on the pathogens of periodontitis and that the
    combination of L. reuteri Prodentis and SRP synergistically improves
    both PPD and CAL, says Professor Vandana at the College of Dental
    Science in Davangere, India.

    - The results strengthen L. reuteri Prodentis position as a
    proven treatment option for patients with periodontal disease, says Peter
    Rothschild, President, BioGaia AB.

The results of the study were published online on the 2nd of November
2010 in the Journal of Oral Microbiology, doi: 10.3402/jom.v2i0.5344. The
study can be accessed at:
www.journaloforalmicrobiology.net/index.php/jom/article/view/5344

BioGaia is a biotechnology company that develops, markets and
sells probiotic products with documented health benefits. The products are
primarily based on the lactic acid bacterium Lactobacillus reuteri (Reuteri),
which has probiotic, health-enhancing effects. The class B share of the
Parent Company BioGaia AB is quoted on the Small Cap list of the NASDAQ OMX
Nordic Exchange Stockholm. www.biogaia.com

Photo:
www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20101110/418565

For additional information contact: Peter Rothschild, President, telephone: +46-8-555-293-00, K. L. Vandana, Professor, College of Dental Science, Davangere, India, e-mail: vanrajs at gmail.com