Effect of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus L8020 on the abundance of periodontal pathogens in individuals with intellectual disability: a randomized clinical trial.

This article focuses on a clinical study investigating the effects of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus L8020 (L8020 yogurt) on oral microbiota and periodontal pathogens in individuals with intellectual disability (ID) and gingivitis. In a randomized controlled trial involving 41 outpatients with severe ID, daily consumption of L8020 yogurt for 12 weeks significantly suppressed the increase in the relative abundance of Tannerella forsythia, a key periodontal pathogen, compared to a placebo yogurt. Although reductions in other pathogens—Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, and Treponema denticola—were observed, these changes were not statistically significant. The study suggests that incorporating L8020 into probiotic products may help control periodontal disease–related bacteria and support oral health in individuals with ID, who often face challenges in maintaining oral hygiene.