Xylitol anti-cavity debate settled, says DuPont

By Natalie Morrison

- Last updated on GMT

Xylitol benefits from an EFSA-backed health claim for its cavity-fighting properties but a recent Cochrane review cast this into doubt. © iStock/Marcel Braendli
Xylitol benefits from an EFSA-backed health claim for its cavity-fighting properties but a recent Cochrane review cast this into doubt. © iStock/Marcel Braendli

Related tags Xylitol Dental caries

Consuming xylitol does prevent cavities despite recent uncertainty over its anti-caries properties, according to a DuPont study.

Doubt was cast on the natural sweetener’s anti-caries effect last year when a Cochraine review​ declared there was little evidence. The review included data from over 5,900 subjects using xylitol-based lozenges, sweets, toothpastes, syrups, and tooth-wipes.

However, using an in vitro ​dental simulator with artificial saliva, DuPont believes it has proven​ that xylitol is protective against tooth decay because it lowered gram-positive bacteria Streptococcus mutans(S. mutans)​ – a known cause of cavities.

The findings add more weight to the EFSA-backed argument​ that chewing xylitol gum prevents cavities, it says.

“This in vitro study was the first to test the effect of xylitol on S. mutans using our in-house dental simulator,”​ said Krista Salli, scientist at DuPont Nutrition & Health in Kantvik, Finland.

“It is encouraging to see that the results closely reflect clinical findings,” ​she added. “This will help us understand the mechanism by which xylitol exerts in benefits.”

Other health organisations already backing xylitol anti-caries claims includes the UK's National Health Service (NHS) which says it helps neutralise plaque acidity on teeth​.

The DuPont study

The study looked at the effects of xylitol and sucrose on three strains of S. mutans​ and one strain of Streptococcus sobrinus​ in a dental simulator.

The simulator mimicked the oral cavity environment through a continuous-flow system of artificial saliva, keeping a constant temperature and mixing. It had a hydroxyapatite surface – the calcium apatite found in teeth and bones – where the effects of xylitol and sugar were observed.

The team found the xylitol decreased most of the bacteria in the simulator compared to untreated saliva, with the exception of the S. mutans ​isolate 117.

As expected, sucrose alone increased bacterial colonisation on the hydroxyapatite.

However, when xylitol of 2 to 5% concentration was added into the simulator a decrease in harmful bacteria was observed, even when sugar was present.

“The results indicate that xylitol affects the ability of certain S. mutans strains to adhere to the hydroxyapatite,” ​the team wrote in Archives of Oral Biology.

“Clinical studies have also shown that xylitol consumption decreases caries incidence and reduces the amount of plaque. This study contributes to the understanding of the mechanism behind these clinical observations.”

Another recent study​ compared xylitol’s anti-caries properties with those of fellow natural sweetener, stevia. Xylitol in 5% concentration resulted in significantly less plaque than 5% stevia, though at 0.5% concentration there was little difference between the two.

 

Source: Archives of Oral Biology

Published online: October 2016, vol. 70, pp 39–46, doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.archoralbio.2016.05.020

“Influence of sucrose and xylitol on an early Streptococcus mutans biofilm in a dental simulator”

Authors: Krista Salli et al.

Related news

Show more

Related products

show more

Sweetening solutions for active nutrition

Sweetening solutions for active nutrition

Content provided by ADM: Innovation that Feeds the Future | 13-Oct-2023 | Case Study

When you add GrainSweet® Liquid Maltodextrin to your active nutrition applications you get the manufacturing efficiencies, cleaner labels and clean tastes...

Discover vegan gelling agent SYNDEO® GELLING

Discover vegan gelling agent SYNDEO® GELLING

Content provided by Alland & Robert | 02-Oct-2023 | White Paper

Alland & Robert launches SYNDEO® GELLING, a plant-based texture agent based on gum acacia mixed with natural hydrocolloids of plant origin.
100%...

Related suppliers

1 comment

Yeah, that doesn't "prove" anything

Posted by Bryan Bauer,

It proves that in the lab a few select strains of bacteria have their ability to adhere to a clean surface decreased. Here's two major problems just off the top of my head, in the mouth the biofilm already exists making the experiment irrelevant. Also there are hundreds if not thousands of different bacteria involved in the biofilm formation in the mouth making this irrelevant. Finally a cochrane review carries far more weight than a lab study.

Report abuse

Follow us

Products

View more

Webinars