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Dental and metabolic effects of lactitol in the diet of laboratory rats

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

T. H. Grenby
Affiliation:
Department of Oral Medicine and Pathology, United Medical and Dental Schools, Guy's Hospital, LondonSEI 9RT
A. Phillips
Affiliation:
Department of Oral Medicine and Pathology, United Medical and Dental Schools, Guy's Hospital, LondonSEI 9RT
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Abstract

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1. Because so little is known about the properties of lactitol as a possible alternative bulk sweetener to sucrose, it was tested in two large-scale experiments in laboratory rats. Matched groups of caries-active Osborne-Mendel rats were fed on uniform diets containing lactitol and compared with a sucrose control in both experiments, plus a xylitol control in the first experiment.

2. In the early stages of the experiments weight gains and food utilization were better on the sucrose than on the lactitol regimens. Body-fat storage was higher on the sucrose than on the polyol regimens.

3. At the end of 8 weeks the mandibular molars were examined for dental plaque accumulation and dental caries. The dental caries scores when 160 g sucrose/kg in the diet was replaced by lactitol were lower by a highly significant margin, bringing them down to the same low level as those on a 160 g xylitol/kg regimen.

4. Testing lactitol in a manufactured food product, shortbread biscuits, in comparison with ordinary sucrose biscuits, showed differences in plaque scores (significant) and caries levels (highly significant), with 60% fewer lesions on the lactitol regimen.

5. The results confirm the low cariogenic potential of lactitol, but show metabolic differences compared with sucrose.

Type
Nutrient Substitutes
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1989

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