Probiotic consumption reduces alveolar bone loss and kidney damage in pregnant rats with experimental periodontitis

Periodontitis (PD) is a destructive periodontal disease that can lead to tooth loss. The treatment for PD consists of scaling and root planing to remove calculus and plaque deposits; however, some systemic conditions make it difficult to control this disease. Probiotic bacteria have emerged as adjuvants in the treatment of infectious diseases, and their benefits have been demonstrated in the management of PD. The aims of the present study were to evaluate whether PD has a negative impact on pregnancy and whether the probiotic strain Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis HN019 can reduce this impact. For this purpose, 48 pregnant rats were divided into four experimental groups (Control, Probiotic, PD, and PD + Probiotic), and samples of maternal and pup weights, as well as placentas, mandibles, urine, and kidneys, were collected and analyzed. We observed that PD negatively impacted pregnant rats, resulting in greater alveolar bone loss, increased expression of proteinuria and creatinine in urine, and kidney damage; systemic probiotic administration reduced these harmful effects. In addition, pups, as well as mothers supplemented with probiotic, exhibited higher weights and larger litter sizes, suggesting a beneficial effect on nutrition and development during pregnancy.