Xylitol Inhibition of Acid Production and Growth of Mutans Streptococci in the Presence of Various Dietary Sugars under Strictly Anaerobic Conditions

Hatsue Kakuta, Yoshimichi Iwami, Hideaki Mayanagi, Nobuhiro Takahashi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

39 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of xylitol on the growth of and acid production by mutans streptococci in the presence of various dietary sugars, and the relationship between the inhibition and the accumulation of xylitol 5-phosphate (X5P) under strictly anaerobic conditions like those in the deep layers of dental plaque. Xylitol retarded the growth of mutans streptococci in the presence of glucose (G), galactose (Gal), maltose (M), lactose (L) or sucrose (S) as an energy source, though the inhibition of growth on fructose (Fr) was small. Xylitol inhibited acid production by washed cells of Streptococcus mutans from G, Gal, M, L or S (12-83% inhibition). S. mutans accumulated X5P intracellularly through activity of the phosphoenolpyruvate-xylitol phosphotransferase system (PEP-xylitol PTS) when they fermented these sugars in the presence of xylitol. However, in the presence of Fr, no inhibition of acid production was observed. In addition, the amounts of X5P during the fermentation of Fr were smaller than those of other sugars in spite of the presence of PEP-xylitol PTS activity. These results suggest that along with the intracellular accumulation of X5P, xylitol decreases the growth and acid production of mutans streptococci in the presence of various dietary sugars except Fr.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)404-409
Number of pages6
JournalCaries Research
Volume37
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2003 Nov

Keywords

  • Acid production
  • Bacterial growth
  • Dietary sugars
  • Mutans streptococci
  • Phosphoenolpyruvate-sugar phosphotransferase system
  • Xylitol
  • Xylitol 5-phosphate

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Xylitol Inhibition of Acid Production and Growth of Mutans Streptococci in the Presence of Various Dietary Sugars under Strictly Anaerobic Conditions'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this