title: Fermentation of sugars and sugar alcohols by plaque Lactobacillus strains.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to analyse the ability of Lactobacillus strains isolated from supragingival plaque of subjects with hyposalivation and from healthy controls to ferment sugars and sugar alcohols.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty strains isolated from interproximal plaque from subjects with radiation-induced hyposalivation (25 strains), subjects with primary Sjögren's syndrome (16 strains) and from subjects with normal salivary secretion rate (9 strains) were tested. Growth and pH were determined after 24 and 48 h of anaerobic incubation in vials containing basal media with 1 % of glucose, fructose, sucrose, mannitol, sorbitol or xylitol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No differences between strains isolated from hyposalivated subjects and controls were detected. All strains lowered the pH to <5.0 from fructose and the majority of the strains from glucose and sucrose. A pH of <5.5 was seen for 52 % of the strains using mannitol, 50 % using sorbitol and 36 % using xylitol. The ability to produce acids from sugars and sugar alcohols was highest among strains of Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus paracasei and lowest among Lactobacillus fermentum strains.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A large number of Lactobacillus strains are able to ferment not only sugars but also the sugar substitutes mannitol, sorbitol and xylitol to pH levels critical for enamel demineralisation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that products containing mannitol, sorbitol and/or xylitol may contribute to the acidogenic potential of the dental plaque and especially in hyposalivated subjects with high numbers of lactobacilli.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Odontology, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Box 450, 405 30, Göteborg, Sweden. annica.almstahl@odontologi.gu.se
authors.forename: Annica
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Almståhl
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lingström
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Eliasson
authors.forename: Anette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carlén
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology*; D005285:Fermentation / Q000502:physiology*; D005632:Fructose / Q000378:metabolism; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D007779:Lactobacillus acidophilus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D007780:Lacticaseibacillus casei / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D052197:Limosilactobacillus fermentum / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D052201:Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D008353:Mannitol / Q000378:metabolism; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000382:microbiology; D013012:Sorbitol / Q000378:metabolism; D013395:Sucrose / Q000378:metabolism; D013402:Sugar Alcohols / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D014993:Xylitol / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D013402:Sugar Alcohols; D005632:Fructose; D008353:Mannitol; D013012:Sorbitol; D013395:Sucrose; D005947:Glucose; D014993:Xylitol