WHERE CAN WE FIND XYLITOL? Plums, strawberries, and
raspberries are the rich sources of xylitol which has been
demonstrated to have benefits on  preventing tooth cavities, plaque
formation and ear infection [1,2] and helping improve skin and bone
conditions in rats.

RESEARCH FINDINGS

DENTAL CAVITIES AND PLAGUES

Studies have showed that xylitol gums, toothpastes and candies could
help develop fewer dental cavities than those receiving either placebo
or no treatment [3-9,14-10]. Xylitol may prevent cavities by inhibiting
the growth of the Streptococcus mutans bacteria. [10] A double-blind
placebo-controlled study of 1,677 children showed that xylitol-
enriched toothpaste user developed significantly fewer cavities than
those used the floride-only toothpaste over a three year period. [21]
While, a double-blinded study showed that the effect of xylitol on
developing fewer cavities was in a dose-dependent fashion. [20]

Researchers from Thailand found xylitol chewing gums could effectively
reduce the levels of mutans streptococci in plaque and saliva in a
study of 91 children, aged 10-12. [26] Researchers from Finland
discovered that use of erythritol and xylitol was associated with a
statistically significant reduction in the plaque and saliva levels of
mutans streptococci from a study of 136 teenagers. [27]

EAR INFECTION

Studies have shown that xylitol (in chewing gum) could be a
preventive measure for middle ear infections [11-13, 24, 25].

OSTEOPOROSIS / BONE HEALTH (RESORPTION)

Studies have shown that dietary xylitol supplementation diminishes
bone resorption in rats, as well as protects against ovariectomy-
induced increase of bone resorption during experimental
osteoporosis. 10% xylitol combined with 10% ethanol seems to be
more effective on diminishing bone resorption and to increase bone
mineral density and content in rats. [28]

SKIN HEALTH / AGING

Dietary xylitol has been shown to increase the amounts of newly
synthesized collagen, and to decrease fluorescence of the
collagenase-soluble fraction in the skin of both healthy and diabetic
rats. As in diabetic rats, a decreased rate of collagen synthesis and
increased collagen fluorescence has also been detected in the skin of
aged rats. [29]

ANTI-CANCER

Sahni PS et al at Indiana University suggested that xylitol is both
noncariogenic and anticariogenic.  They believe that the ability of
xylitol to act as an anticariogenic agent is related to its ability to be
transported into caries-causing oral bacteria and inhibiting
fermentation. [30]

XYLITOL SIDE EFFECTS

Xylitol appears to be safe. Limited xylitol side effects have been
reported. In general. Inhalation of aerosolized iso-osmotic xylitol is
well-tolerated by naive and atopic mice, and by healthy human
volunteers. [31]

However, overdose of xylitol may cause serious side effects such as
stomach discomfort, diarrhea, oral erosive eczema or even acute renal
failure. [32, 33] Infusion of xylitol may cause renal oxalosis. [35]

Oral consumption of a large quantity of xylitol-containing gum was
found to induce severe hypoglycemia, collapse and seizures in a 9-mo-
old neutered male Labrador Retriever. In dogs, xylitol is a strong
promoter of insulin release and can cause severe hypoglycemia with
ataxia, collapse and seizures.  In humans, xylitol has little to no effect
on plasma insulin or glucose levels [34]


                                             
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THIS ARTICLE IS FOR YOUR REFERENCE ONLY. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION,
YOU SHOULD CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY. NEVER
OVERDOSE YOURSELF WITH XYLITOL.  ALL RIGHT RESERVED 2007.

References
1. Hildebrandt GH, Sparks BS. Maintaining mutans streptococci suppression with xylitol chewing gum. J Am
Dent Assoc. 2000;131:909–916. 2. Uhari M, Kontiokari T, Niemela. A novel use of xylitol sugar in
preventing acute otitis media. Pediatrics. 1998;102:879–884.3. Gales MA, Nguyen T-M. Sorbitol compared
with xylitol in prevention of dental caries. Ann Pharmacother. 2000;34:98–100.4. Makinen KK, Bennett
CA, Hujoel PP, et al. Xylitol chewing gums and caries rates: a 40-month cohort study. J Dent Res. 1995;74:
1904–1913.5. Makinen KK, Hujoel PP, Bennett CA, et al. Polyol chewing gums and caries rates in primary
dentition: a 24-month cohort study. Caries Res. 1996;30:408–417.6. Makinen KK, Pemberton D, Makinen
P-L, et al. Polyol-combinant saliva stimulants and oral health in Veterans Affairs patients—an exploratory
study. Spec Care Dent. 1996;16:104–115.7. Isokangas P, Alanen P, Tiekso J, et al. Xylitol chewing gum in
caries prevention: a field study in children. J Am Dent Assoc. 1988;117:315–320.8. Scully C, Greenman J,
Porter S, et al. Anti-caries efficacy of xylitol and sodium fluoride in dentifrices [abstract]. Int Dent J. 1995;45:
325.9. Sintes JL, Escalante C, Stewart B, et al. Enhanced anticaries efficacy of a 0.243% sodium fluoride/10%
xylitol/silica dentrifrice: 3-year clinical results. Am J Dent. 1995;8:231–235. 10. Uhari M, Kontiokari T,
Niemela. A novel use of xylitol sugar in preventing acute otitis media. Pediatrics. 1998;102:879–884.11.
Kontiokari T, Uhari M, Koskela M. Antiadhesive effects of xylitol on otopathogenic bacteria. J
AntimicrobChemother. 1998;41:563–565.12. Uhari M, Kontiokari T, Koskela M, et al. Xylitol chewing
gum in prevention of acute otitis media: double blind randomised trial. BMJ. 1996;313:1180–1184. 13.
Uhari M, Kontiokari T, Niemela. A novel use of xylitol sugar in preventing acute otitis media. Pediatrics.
1998;102:879–884.14. Gales MA, Nguyen T-M. Sorbitol compared with xylitol in prevention of dental
caries. Ann Pharmacother. 2000;34:98–100. 15. Makinen KK, Bennett CA, Hujoel PP, et al. Xylitol
chewing gums and caries rates: a 40-month cohort study. J Dent Res. 1995;74:1904–1913. 16. Makinen KK,
Hujoel PP, Bennett CA, et al. Polyol chewing gums and caries rates in primary dentition: a 24-month cohort
study. Caries Res. 1996;30:408–417.17. Makinen KK, Pemberton D, Makinen P-L, et al. Polyol-combinant
saliva stimulants and oral health in Veterans Affairs patients—an exploratory study. Spec Care Dent. 1996;16:
104–115. 18. Isokangas P, Alanen P, Tiekso J, et al. Xylitol chewing gum in caries prevention: a field study
in children. J Am Dent Assoc. 1988;117:315–320. 19. Sintes JL, Escalante C, Stewart B, et al. Enhanced
anticaries efficacy of a 0.243% sodium fluoride/10% xylitol/silica dentrifrice: 3-year clinical results. Am J Dent.
1995;8:231–235. 20. Makinen KK, Bennett CA, Hujoel PP, et al. Xylitol chewing gums and caries rates: a
40-month cohort study. J Dent Res. 1995;74:1904–1913. 21. Sintes JL, Escalante C, Stewart B, et al.
Enhanced anticaries efficacy of a 0.243% sodium fluoride/10% xylitol/silica dentrifrice: 3-year clinical results.
Am J Dent. 1995;8:231–235. 22. Makinen KK, Pemberton D, Makinen P-L, et al. Polyol-combinant saliva
stimulants and oral health in Veterans Affairs patients—an exploratory study. Spec Care Dent. 1996;16:104–
115. 23. Alanen P, Isokangas P, Gutmann K. Xylitol candies in caries prevention: results of a field study in
Estonian children. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2000;28:218–224. 24. Uhari M, Kontiokari T,
Niemela. A novel use of xylitol sugar in preventing acute otitis media. Pediatrics. 1998;102:879–884. 25.
Uhari M, Kontiokari T, Koskela M, et al. Xylitol chewing gum in prevention of acute otitis media: double
blind randomised trial. BMJ. 1996;313:1180–1184. 26. Thaweboon S et al, The effect of xylitol chewing
gum on mutans streptococci in saliva and dental plaque. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health. 2004 Dec;
35(4):1024-7. 27. Makinen KK et al, Similarity of the effects of erythritol and xylitol on some risk factors of
dental caries. Caries Res. 2005 May-Jun;39(3):207-15. 28.Mattila PT, The effect of a simultaneous dietary
administration of xylitol and ethanol on bone resorption. Metabolism. 2005 Apr;54(4):548-51.] 29. Mattila
PT et al. Effects of a long-term dietary xylitol supplementation on collagen content and fluorescence of the skin
in aged rats. Gerontology. 2005 May-Jun;51(3):166-9.] 30. Sahni PS et al. In vitro testing of xylitol as an
anticariogenic agent. Gen Dent. 2002 Jul-Aug;50(4):340-3. 31. Durairaj L Safety assessment of inhaled xylitol
in mice and healthy volunteers. Respir Res. 2004 Sep 16;5(1):13. 32. Hanakawa Y, Hanakawa Y, Tohyama
M, Yamasaki K, Hashimoto K. Xylitol as a causative agent of oral erosive eczema.Br J Dermatol. 2005 Apr;
152(4):821-2. 33. Meier M, Nitschke M, Perras B, Steinhoff J. Ethylene glycol intoxication and xylitol
infusion--metabolic steps of oxalate-induced acute renal failure. Clin Nephrol. 2005 Mar;63(3):225-8. 34.
Dunayer EK Hypoglycemia following canine ingestion of xylitol-containing gum. Vet Hum Toxicol. 2004 Apr;
46(2):87-8. 35. Renal oxalosis with renal failure after infusion of xylitol Dtsch Med Wochenschr. 2001 Nov 30;
126(48):1357-60. 35. Nyyssola A et al, Production of xylitol from d-xylose by recombinant Lactococcus lactis
J Biotechnol. 2005 May 22
XYLITOL side effects - Facts,
Benefits, Research Finds, updated on May 4, 2007
zhion@zhion.com
What are the health benefits of taking xylitol? Studies have shown that xylitol may have health benefits
on preventing  tooth cavities, ear infections and periodontal diseases
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