New Study confirms effectiveness of BLIS K12™

12 September 2012

New Study confirms effectiveness of BLIS K12™

BLIS Technologies Ltd (NZX:BLT) announces the recent independent publication by a Swiss research team at the University of Basel, evaluating the oral cavity probiotic, BLIS K12™ for its ability to inhibit bacteria responsible for the severe bad breath in the oral cavity (also known as halitosis). The study entitled “Antimicrobial activity of Streptococcus salivarius K12 on bacteria involved in oral malodour” has been published in the international science journal, Archives of Oral Biology (2012).

This study confirms an earlier clinical study of 23 subjects by Dr J Burton and co-workers, (published in the Journal of Applied Microbiology) where S. salivarius K12 was shown to be effective at significantly reducing the levels of sulphur-compound producing bacteria in the mouth, which are responsible for chronic bad breath and halitosis.

It is estimated that around 49 million people in the United States alone, worry “a lot” about bad breath and nearly 10 million live with bad breath, which impacts their lives a moderate or severe amount. US consumers spent over $US 1 billion on mouth fresheners, mouth washes and dental rinses in 2011 according to the market research company, Euromonitor.

BLIS K12™ is a specific strain of S. salivarius; a species of beneficial bacteria which is found naturally occurring in the mouth of healthy individuals. In addition to being part of the dominant healthy species of the mouth, this probiotic strain also secretes powerful antimicrobial molecules called BLIS: Bacteriocin-Like-Inhibitory Substances to help provide a natural long term protection from bad breath as well as support our oral immune system’s natural defenses.

The objective of the study at the University of Basel, Switzerland was to investigate the antimicrobial activity of BLIS K12™ against several bacteria involved in chronic and severe halitosis including such clinically relevant strains as Solobacterium moorei, Atopobium parvulum and Eubacterium sulci. The study results found that BLIS K12™ could inhibit all tested bacteria responsible for oral malodour. The authors concluded that this study further supports the potential of BLIS K12™ as a valuable candidate for inclusion in therapies for halitosis sufferers and offers potential long-term support for sufferers of this disease, through the direct inhibition of the responsible malodor-causing bacteria.

"This research paper represents further evidence that the BLIS K12™ probiotic plays an important role in maintaining good oral health by protecting the mouth against invading pathogens" said Dr Barry Richardson, Chief Executive of BLIS Technologies. "We believe that the data in this model strongly points to a beneficial effect in the human oral cavity and we expect further human studies to confirm this effect."

www.blis.co.nz

ENDS

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