POLYOL-COMBINANT SALIVA STIMULANTS - A 4-MONTH PILOT-STUDY IN YOUNG-ADULTS

Several studies indicate that xylitol (X) consumption is associated wi th certain biochemical changes in dental prague and whole saliva. In m aking X-containing saliva stimulants more cost-effective and palatable , manufacturers may use maltitol syrup (MS, which normally contains so me sorbitol and higher polyols) or polydextrose (PD: a polysaccharide molecule with a mass >22 kDa) as bulking agents. Combinations of X wit h MS and PD have not been tested regarding their salivary effects. One hundred and eighty-eight young subjects (mean age, 22 years) of both sexes were divided into three groups of equal size for a 4-month study . The subjects in one group used X-MS dragees (in 7 daily episodes; 8 g-X per day), while the subjects in another group used X-PD dragees in as many daily episodes (8 g X per da)ij. Subjects in the third (compa rison) group did not receive saliva stimulants. Pa raffin-stimulated w hole saliva samples were collected at baseline, after 2 months, and at endpoint. The usage of X-MS was associated with a significant (P<0.05 ) reduction in the salival-Ii sucrase activity. After 4 months, the ac tivity of enzymes hydrolyzing N alpha-benzoyl-DL-arginyl-p-nitroanilin e was significantly reduced in all groups, while the levels of free si alic acid tc-ere reduced in group;X-PD only (P<0.05). These salivary c hanges most likely reflected microbial shifts in the oral cavity and s uggest that information from saliva studies may be of avail when decid ing which bulking agents should be used in xylitol-based saliva stimul ants.