title: Cariogenic bacteria as biomarkers for sugar intake.
abstract: Cariogenic bacteria (lactobacilli and mutans streptococci) in saliva are possible biomarkers for sugar intake. We evaluated the strength of the evidence for an association between sugar intake and the two groups of bacteria, and concluded that there is a limited to moderately scientific basis for this association. Because of many confounding factors, bacteria counts can never be used as a precise measurement of sugar intake, but might still be useful on a group level.
authors.affiliation: Obesity Unit, Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. karin.vagstrand@ki.se
authors.forename: Karin E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Vågstrand
authors.forename: Dowen
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Birkhed
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers; D002326:Cariogenic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000254:growth & development*; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009909:Oral Health; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002326:Cariogenic Agents; D019422:Dietary Sucrose