Journal of Dental Research, Vol 69, 1480-1484, Copyright © 1990 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
The influence of sucralose on bacterial metabolism
D. A. Young and W. H. Bowen
Department of Dental Research, University of Rochester, New York 14642.
Sucralose (1',4',6' trideoxy-trichloro-galactosucrose) is a nontoxic,
intensely sweet sucrose derivative that has been shown to be non-cariogenic
in experimental animals. The purpose of this study was to determine whether
certain oral bacteria could utilize sucralose. Sucralose, as a sole carbon
source, was unable to support growth of ten strains of oral bacteria and
dental plaque. When sucrolose was incorporated into a liquid medium
containing glucose or sucrose, all organisms tested displayed similar pH
falls, compared with controls. The incorporation of 126 mmol/L sucralose
into glucose agar medium caused total inhibition of growth of Streptococcus
sobrinus 6715-17, Streptococcus sanguis 10904, Streptococcus sanguis
Challis, Streptococcus salivarius, and Actinomyces viscosus WVU627.
Sucralose had no effect on IPS production. Sucralose was not bound to, nor
taken up by, cells. Sucralose inhibited the formation of glucan and fructan
polymers in proportion to the sucralose-to-enzyme ratio, but independent of
the sucrose concentration in the assay mixture. No radioactive polymer was
formed from 14C-U-sucralose added to mixtures containing
glucosyltransferase (GTF) or fructosyl-transferase (FTF). Inhibition of GTF
and FTF by sucralose was removed following dialysis of the enzyme/sucralose
mixture. These results show that sucralose was not utilized by the oral
bacteria tested and that the inhibitory effect of sucralose on GTF and FTF
was non-competitive and reversible. The results further support the concept
that sucralose is non-cariogenic.
