NEW YORK (Reuters Health) -
Gummy bears containing a sugar
substitute called xylitol seem to reduce cavity-causing
bacteria on young children's teeth suggesting, researchers say,
that candy could be turned into a weapon against tooth decay.

Xylitol is a natural sweetener found in various berries,
corn, birch and other plant sources. Research has shown that
the sugar substitute reduces levels of mutans streptococci (MS)
bacteria, which are known to cause cavities.

This is because xylitol differs from others sugars, like
table sugar and glucose, which MS bacteria use for energy. MS
bacteria “take in” xylitol, but can not break it down to use
for fuel, explained lead investigator Dr. Kiet A. Ly of the
University of Washington in Seattle.

“So in the process of trying to break down xylitol, they
expend energy and don't get any in return,” Ly told Reuters
Health. “That reduces their ability to reproduce and multiply
and leads to a reduction in number.”

Xylitol-containing chewing gum is available, but it's not
considered suitable for young children. So Ly and his
colleagues tested the effects of xylitol-sweetened gummy bears
in 154 elementary school children.

Each child was given four gummy bears, three times per day,
during school hours. Some children received xylitol-containing
gummy bears, while the rest were given candies sweetened with
maltitol, another sugar substitute.

At the beginning of the study and six weeks later, the
researchers measured the amount of bacteria in plaque samples
from the children's teeth.

In the end, both the xylitol and maltitol gummy bears
reduced levels of MS bacteria in the children's mouths, the
researchers report in the online journal BMC Oral Health.

According to Ly, the findings suggest that gummy bears
containing either sugar substitute could benefit children's
oral health. But, he added, there has been little research on
maltitol, and more study is needed to confirm the current
findings.

The next step is to show that xylitol gummy bears actually
prevent cavities in young children.

Ly said he and his colleagues are collaborating on just
such a study with researchers at Case Western Reserve
University in Cleveland.

He noted that the xylitol gummy bears were created for the
current study and are not yet on the market.

SOURCE: BMC Oral Health, online July 24, 2008.