Abstract
Xylitol is known to reduce caries by inhibiting the growth of Streptococcus mutans. We hypothesized that xylitol could also affect the growth of other nasopharyngeal bacterial flora, which could be important when considering respiratory infections caused by these bacteria. We studied this in vitro by adding xylitol to the medium and observed that 1 and 5% xylitol reduced markedly the growth of alpha-hemolytic streptococci, including S. pneumoniae. It reduced slightly the growth of beta-hemolytic streptococci but not that of Haemophilus influenzae or Moraxella catarrhalis. The inhibitory growth pattern was similar to that previously seen with S. mutans, which may indicate a similarity in the enzymatic processing of five-carbon sugars such as xylitol. This sugar alcohol is a widely used sweetener, and the concentrations used in our experiments are easily achieved in the oral cavity. If xylitol reduces the growth of S. pneumoniae in the nasopharynx, it could also reduce the carriage of this pathogen and thus have clinical significance in the prevention of pneumococcal diseases.
Full Text
The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (267.6 KB).
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Akerblom H. K., Koivukangas T., Puukka R., Mononen M. The tolerance of increasing amounts of dietary xylitol in children. Int J Vitam Nutr Res Suppl. 1982;22:53–66. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Assev S., Vegarud G., Rölla G. Growth inhibition of Streptococcus mutans strain OMZ 176 by xylitol. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand B. 1980 Feb;88(1):61–63. doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1980.tb02605.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Birkhed D., Kalfas S., Svensäter G., Edwardsson S. Microbiological aspects of some caloric sugar substitutes. Int Dent J. 1985 Mar;35(1):9–17. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Bánóczy J., Orsós M., Pienihäkkinen K., Scheinin A. Collaborative WHO xylitol field studies in Hungary. IV. Saliva levels of Streptococcus mutans. Acta Odontol Scand. 1985 Dec;43(6):367–370. doi: 10.3109/00016358509046520. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Faden H., Waz M. J., Bernstein J. M., Brodsky L., Stanievich J., Ogra P. L. Nasopharyngeal flora in the first three years of life in normal and otitis-prone children. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 1991 Aug;100(8):612–615. doi: 10.1177/000348949110000802. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Grahnén H., Myrberg N., Ollinen P. Fluoride and dental age. Acta Odontol Scand. 1975;33(1):1–4. doi: 10.3109/00016357509004620. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Henderson F. W., Gilligan P. H., Wait K., Goff D. A. Nasopharyngeal carriage of antibiotic-resistant pneumococci by children in group day care. J Infect Dis. 1988 Feb;157(2):256–263. doi: 10.1093/infdis/157.2.256. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Isogangas P., Mäkinen K. K., Tiekso J., Alanen P. Long-term effect of xylitol chewing gum in the prevention of dental caries: a follow-up 5 years after termination of a prevention program. Caries Res. 1993;27(6):495–498. doi: 10.1159/000261587. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Isokangas P., Tenovuo J., Söderling E., Männistö H., Mäkinen K. K. Dental caries and mutans streptococci in the proximal areas of molars affected by the habitual use of xylitol chewing gum. Caries Res. 1991;25(6):444–448. doi: 10.1159/000261408. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Isokangas P., Tiekso J., Alanen P., Mäkinen K. K. Long-term effect of xylitol chewing gum on dental caries. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 1989 Aug;17(4):200–203. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0528.1989.tb00611.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kandelman D., Bär A., Hefti A. Collaborative WHO xylitol field study in French Polynesia. I. Baseline prevalence and 32-month caries increment. Caries Res. 1988;22(1):55–62. doi: 10.1159/000261084. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Larmas M., Mäkinen K. K., Scheinin A. Turku sugar studies. VIII. Principal microbiological findings. Acta Odontol Scand. 1976;34(5):285–328. doi: 10.3109/00016357609004644. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Mäkinen K. K. Effect of long-term, peroral administration of sugar alcohols on man. Swed Dent J. 1984;8(3):113–124. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Mäkinen K. K., Söderling E., Isokangas P., Tenovuo J., Tiekso J. Oral biochemical status and depression of Streptococcus mutans in children during 24- to 36-month use of xylitol chewing gum. Caries Res. 1989;23(4):261–267. doi: 10.1159/000261189. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Mühlemann H. R., Schmid R., Noguchi T., Imfeld T., Hirsch R. S. Some dental effects of xylitol under laboratory and in vivo conditions. Caries Res. 1977;11(5):263–276. doi: 10.1159/000260278. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Scheinin A., Bánóczy J. Xylitol and caries: the collaborative WHO oral disease preventive programme in Hungary. Int Dent J. 1985 Mar;35(1):50–57. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Söderling E., Pihlanto-Leppälä A. Uptake and expulsion of 14C-xylitol by xylitol-cultured Streptococcus mutans ATCC 25175 in vitro. Scand J Dent Res. 1989 Dec;97(6):511–519. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0722.1989.tb00925.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Trahan L., Mouton C. Selection for Streptococcus mutans with an altered xylitol transport capacity in chronic xylitol consumers. J Dent Res. 1987 May;66(5):982–988. doi: 10.1177/00220345870660052301. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Vadeboncoeur C., Trahan L., Mouton C., Mayrand D. Effect of xylitol on the growth and glycolysis of acidogenic oral bacteria. J Dent Res. 1983 Aug;62(8):882–884. doi: 10.1177/00220345830620080601. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Wennerholm K., Emilson C. G. Effect of sorbitol- and xylitol-containing chewing gum on salivary microflora, saliva, and oral sugar clearance. Scand J Dent Res. 1989 Jun;97(3):257–262. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0722.1989.tb01610.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]