Cariogenicity of sorbose as a substrate.

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Sorbose is a 2-ketohexose, differing from fructose in configuration at C-3 and C-4. It is obtained through a cultivation of sorbitol and Gluconobacter (Acetobacter) suboxydans. The sugar is about 80-90% as sweet as sucrose and is also non-hygroscopic. The effect of sorbose on the cariogenicity of mutans streptococci (serotype a-h) and certain oral microorganisms was studied. Sorbose was not utilized as a substrate for the growth, lactic acid production, and plaque formation of mutans streptococci (serotype a-h). It did not serve as a substrate for cellular aggregation of mutans streptococci and was not utilized in water-insoluble glucan synthesis and cellular adherence by glucosyltransferase from Streptococcus mutans PS-14 (c) or S. sobrinus 6715 (g). Sorbose was also not utilized for the growth and lactic acid production of certain oral microorganisms although some growth was seen with Lactobacillus casei and L. acidophilus. Two groups of SPF SD rats infected with S. mutans PS-14 were fed with a diet containing 30% sorbose and 30% sucrose for 58 days. A significantly (p<0.01) lower caries score (mean±SE; 17.5±2.0) was obtained in the rats fed with a diet containing 30% sorbose than in the rats fed with a diet containing 30% sucrose (82.1±4.4). The caries inhibition rate was 78.7%.