Author contribution
ALMEIDA
All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Yara Loyanne de Almeida Silva Levi collected the clinical and immunological data, interpreted the results and drafted the manuscript. Marcella Costa Ribeiro distributed the lozenges to the patients and drafted the manuscript. Pedro Henrique Félix Silva was responsible for monitoring patients’ compliance in the consumption of lozenges and drafted the manuscript. Giselle Aparecida Silva performed the clinical treatment and helped to draft the manuscript. Sergio Luiz de Souza Salvador monitored viability and the counts of CFUs of 