Mäkinen K K, Mäkinen P L, Pape H R, Peldyak J, Hujoel P, Isotupa K P, Soderling E, Isokangas P J, Allen P, Bennett C
University of Michigan, School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor 48109-1078, USA.
Int Dent J. 1996 Feb;46(1):22-34.
The major results of the Michigan Xylitol Programme (1986-1995) are summarised. The Programme consisted of several clinical trials and laboratory investigations designed to study the usage of xylitol-containing saliva stimulants in the prevention of dental caries. The trials patients included young (initially 6 year olds) and adult or geriatric subjects who were given saliva stimulants (mostly chewing gum) for periods of two weeks to 56 months. A special rationale behind these studies was the need to further test the validity of the 'pentitol-hexitol theory' in the prevention of caries. This theory has maintained that pentitols (sugar alcohols with five hydroxyl groups, such as xylitol) may be cariologically more effective than hexitols (sugar alcohols with six hydroxyl groups, such as sorbitol). The accumulated clinical, sialochemical and microbiologic evidence suggests that xylitol, a natural carbohydrate sweetener of the pentitol type, is more effective in preventing dental caries than sorbitol, and cariologically safer than sorbitol, a natural carbohydrate of the hexitol type. Sorbitol was found to be significantly less cariogenic than sucrose. The Programme's results shed additional light on the cariologic and oral biologic effects of natural, dietary polyols, and suggest that the usage of xylitol chewing gum (and in some cases xylitol dragées) can be considered a valuable additional tool in caries prevention and in stabilisation of caries in all age groups.
本文总结了密歇根木糖醇项目（1986 - 1995年）的主要成果。该项目包括多项临床试验和实验室研究，旨在研究含木糖醇的唾液刺激剂在预防龋齿方面的应用。试验对象包括儿童（最初为6岁）、成人及老年人，他们被给予唾液刺激剂（主要是口香糖），为期两周至56个月。这些研究背后的一个特殊理论依据是，需要进一步验证“戊糖醇 - 己糖醇理论”在预防龋齿方面的有效性。该理论认为，戊糖醇（含有五个羟基的糖醇，如木糖醇）在防龋方面可能比己糖醇（含有六个羟基的糖醇，如山梨醇）更有效。积累的临床、唾液化学和微生物学证据表明，木糖醇这种戊糖醇类型的天然碳水化合物甜味剂，在预防龋齿方面比山梨醇更有效，且在防龋方面比山梨醇这种己糖醇类型的天然碳水化合物更安全。研究发现山梨醇的致龋性明显低于蔗糖。该项目的结果进一步揭示了天然膳食多元醇的防龋和口腔生物学效应，并表明木糖醇口香糖（在某些情况下还有木糖醇糖丸）的使用可被视为各年龄组预防龋齿和稳定龋齿病情的一种有价值的辅助工具。
