Caries-inducing activity of the hydrogenated derivative of an isomaltooligosaccharide mixture in rats.

The caries-inducing activity of the hydrogenated derivative of an isomaltooligosaccharide mixture (IMO-H) was evaluated in vitro for its acidogenicity and in vivo an experimental caries system with specific-pathogen-free (SPF) rats. Streptococcus sobrinus 6715 (serotype g) did not produce a significant amount of acid from IMO-H, whereas Streptococcus mutans MT8148 (serotype c) gradually produced a small amount of acid, although the degree was less than that of sucrose. In vivo experiments were conducted on rats which were provided with the test sugars at two different times: at the time of organism inoculation, and after the organisms had become completely established. IMO-H did not induce significant dental caries in rats infected with the S. sobrinus 6715 or S. mutans MT8148R strain.