While other sugars tend to promote the growth of bacteria, xylitol has been proven to inhibit the growth of bacteria. In particular it has been shown to be effective in preventing dental cavities by inhibiting Strep mutans, the main bacteria responsible for cavities.
Since the major cause of ear infections is Strep pneumo, a species of bacteria closely related to Strep mutans, perhaps xylitol would prove effective in preventing ear infections. Researchers from Finland tested this hypothesis and published the results of their investigation in the British Medical Journal (November 1996). Alan Greene, M.D., F.A.A.P. http://www.xylitol.org/ Streptococcus Mutans The effect of sugar substitutes on changes in S. mutans levels also have been investigated. All studies have consistently demonstrated that xylitol use did significantly reduce the levels of S. mutans. Catherine Hayes, D.M.D., D.M.Sc. Harvard School of Dental Medicine . Hildebrandt GH, Sparks BS. Maintaining Mutans Streptococci suppression with xylitol chewing gum. J Am Dent Assoc 2000;131:909-16. 21. Isokangas P, Tenovuo J, Soderling E, Mannisto H, Makinen KK. Dental caries and mutans streptococci in the proximal areas of molars affected by the habitual use of xylitol chewing gum. Caries Res 1991;25:444-8. 22. Makinen KK, Soderling E, Isokangas P, Tenovuo J, Tiekso J. Oral biochemical status and depression of streptococcus mutans in children during 24 to 36 month use of xylitol chewing gum. Caries Res 1998;23:261-7. One promising approach is the possible use of xylitol as a dietary agent to prevent midear infections in young children. This effect is based on the growth inhibition by xylitol of alpha-hemolytic streptococci, including Streptococcus pneumoniae. As one consequence of this, the usage of xylitol chewing gum by young day-care center children was shown to reduce the occurrence of acute otitis media and antimicrobial treatment received during the gum-using period (7). It is possible that the virulent bacterial flora present in the entire aero-digestive tract of man, can be favourably affected by systematic xylitol use. Xylitol, by virtue of its pentitol nature, modifies the outer environment of selected pathogenic organisms and the outer structures of the organisms themselves. Such changes may result in a lowered ability of the organisms to adhere onto epithelial cell surfaces and other host tissue surfaces, reducing the risk of infection. It is clear, however, that the above otitis media-related observations must be verified by independent studies before further conclusions can be made. No study has shown that the oral bacteria become adapted to utilize xylitol for effective acid and polysaccharide production.... Xylitol, being a natural dietary carbohydrate, must be used at chemical levels corresponding to those of regular table sugar. Such concentrations are more likely to display specific effects on oral microorganisms and on oral tissues. Professor Kauko K. Mäkinen Institute of Dentistry, University of Turku, Finland http://www.xylitol.org/ Like maltitol, xylitol is another one of the "sugar alcohols"; but where maltitol is essentially inert, xylitol produces some very interesting effects as it passes through the body. Where regular sugar promotes the formation of dental plaque and the bacteria that lead to tooth decay and gum disease, xylitol has exactly the opposite effect. It actively combats these bacteria, due to its powerful antimicrobial properties, making it an ideal substance to chew on after a meal. Once it gets into the digestive tract, it does not feed pathogenic yeasts the way that sucrose does, so it does not encourage candida overgrowth. Nor does it have the immune suppressing effect of regular sugar. Furthermore, when it reaches the large intestine, it is converted into short-chain fatty acids, which then nourish the mucosal cells that line the colon, cells which play a key role in protecting against colon cancer. If that was not enough, preliminary research suggests that xylitol may actually improve bone density and help ward off osteoporosis (though it would need to be ingested in a greater quantity than you are likely to get through the mints alone). http://www.bloodph.com/newsletters/Newsletter%20%20June%202003.htm To enhance the function of this fluid, she postulated that a substance that lowered the salt concentration in the airway without simultaneously being absorbed from the upper airway would help prevent the initial tracheal colonization with bacteria seen early during mechanical ventilation. Xylitol has such properties and has been used successfully in lozenges to help prevent recurrent otitis media in children. The primary emphasis of her current research is to lay the groundwork for a large trial in this area. In animal models, it has been shown that nebulized xylitol substantial prevents airway colonization in a model of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In safety studies in health adults, nebulization of xylitol appears to have no impact on either forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) or airway hyperreactivity.[10] She hopes to soon answer questions regarding long-term safety, colonization prevention, and the cystic fibrosis population. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/507433 Dear Dr. Dean, If I may I'd like to ask four ques- tions about Xylitol: 1) How much Xylitol should I consume daily to help kill H. Pylori? 2) Should the Xylitol be consumed on an empty stomach to combat H. Pylori? 3) Will Xylitol feed my candida over- growth problem? 4) Why does a natural substance (Xylitol) cause bowel disturbance if consuming over 50 grams daily? Thank you for your time, - Mr. M. Dear Mr. M., I don't know that the amount of Xylitol required to kill H. Pylori has ever been quanti- fied. Xylitol doesn't "kill" micro-organisms (like the bacteria in the mouth that cause peri- odontal disease, or candida) in the sense that other anti-microbials kill these organisms. It is lethal to these microbes because they con- sume Xylitol, and assume it is sugar (like we do). If it is their only source of "sugar," they don't metabolize it (like we don't) and literally "starve to death." If Xylitol is the only source of "carbohy- drate," it will inhibit the growth of Dear Dr. Dean, If I may I'd like to ask four ques- tions about Xylitol: 1) How much Xylitol should I consume daily to help kill H. Pylori? 2) Should the Xylitol be consumed on an empty stomach to combat H. Pylori? 3) Will Xylitol feed my candida over- growth problem? 4) Why does a natural substance (Xylitol) cause bowel disturbance if consuming over 50 grams daily? Thank you for your time, - Mr. M. Dear Mr. M., I don't know that the amount of Xylitol required to kill H. Pylori has ever been quanti- fied. Xylitol doesn't "kill" micro-organisms (like the bacteria in the mouth that cause peri- odontal disease, or candida) in the sense that other anti-microbials kill these organisms. It is lethal to these microbes because they con- sume Xylitol, and assume it is sugar (like we do). If it is their only source of "sugar," they don't metabolize it (like we don't) and literally "starve to death." If Xylitol is the only source of "carbohy- drate," it will inhibit the growth of candida. www.vrp.com/pdf/september2005news.pdf Based on the above, the answer seems to me to be that pathogens that consume xylitol, thinking it is sugar, die because they can't metabolise it. Rather like the ants that eat aspartame? Though no, I suppose that is not quite the same? Rowena My question: does Xylitol feed some pathogens has stimulated a great deal of traffic on the stuff, but no one has addressed the issue: Does it feed some pathogens? 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