Palatinose--a sucrose substitute. Pilot studies.

Pilot studies on isomaltulose, (Palatinose), a sucrose substitute, including acid production in plaques, acid production in suspensions of dental plaque material or of Streptococcus mutans were performed, as well as studies on the effect of isomaltulose on glucan synthesis, by Strep. mutans. Also an experimental caries study in the rat was carried out in a few animals. The results indicated that isomaltulose is only slowly fermented in the oral cavity and that glucan formation from isomaltulose, if any, is very small. Sulcal caries only was found in rats challenged with isomaltulose. Since the animals developed very well on the isomaltulose diet and did not have stomach disorders, isomaltulose is considered to be of great interest as a sucrose-like, low-cariogenic and nontoxic sucrose substitute.