256: Cranberry Polyphenol Extract Oral Rinse Improves Oral Microbiome in PROP Non-Tasters

Introduction

PROP taster status is often used as a genetic marker for individual differences in taste perception. Our recent findings show that PROP taster status is associated with differences in the oral microbiome. It is well known that diet and environmental factors influence the risk of oral disease, but there is far less evidence showing how genetic differences play a role. We hypothesized that (1) at baseline, the composition of the oral microbiome will differ between PROP super-tasters and non-tasters (who have greater oral disease risk) and (2) a cranberry polyphenol extract (CPE) oral rinse will alter the oral microbiome composition of non-tasters more than super-tasters, providing greater benefits to non-tasters.

Methods

Forty-seven young, healthy adults with no existing oral disease participated in the study. Participants rinsed with a CPE oral rinse (0.75 g/L CPE powder in spring water) twice a day for 11 days. Saliva was collected before and after the intervention for oral microbiome analysis using shotgun metagenomic sequencing.

Results

At baseline, PROP taster groups differed in their oral microbiome compositions, but post-intervention the groups had more similar oral bacterial compositions. After the intervention, non-tasters showed a decreasing trend in relative abundance of bacteria species, while super-tasters showed mixed results, with both increases and decreases in bacterial relative abundance. Notably, as a result of the intervention, Eikenella corrodens (p = 0.03) was significantly reduced in non-tasters. This bacterium is involved in oral biofilm formation and early stages of periodontal disease in adolescents and young adults.

Significance

Oral dysbiosis, a risk factor for oral disease, may be controlled by traditional mouthwashes, but they pose the risk of antibiotic resistance. Our results show that cranberry polyphenols, a natural alternative to bactericidal rinses, may be utilized to modulate the oral microbiome. Additionally, they may provide greater benefits to non-tasters, who are also at greater risk for oral disease, bringing them closer in bacterial composition to the super-taster group who are known to have greater protection. The findings suggest a role for cranberry-based rinses and food products in supporting oral health.

Authors: Katrina Nguyen-DeMary, Sarah Vascellari, Melania Melis, Mariano Mastinu, Iole Tomassini Barbarossa, and Beverly J. Tepper