Xylitol: Encyclopedia II - Xylitol - Medical applications

Xylitol - Medical applications

Xylitol - Dental care

Xylitol is a toothfriendly sugar substitute. In addition to discouraging tooth decay by replacing dietary sugars, xylitol may actively aid in repairing minor cavities caused by dental caries. Recent research confirms a plaque-reducing effect and suggests that the compound, having some chemical properties similar to table sugar, attracts and then "starves" harmful micro-organisms, allowing the mouth to remineralize damaged teeth with less interruption. (However, this same effect also interferes with the yeast micro-organism and others, so xylitol is inappropriate in making bread, for instance.) The United States Army, acting on this data, will soon pack xylitol-sweetened gum in MREs (meals ready to eat). [1]

Xylitol - Diabetes

Possessing approximately 40% less food energy, xylitol is a low-calorie alternative to table sugar, and is absorbed more slowly than sugar; thus it doesn't contribute to a rapid rise in blood sugar level and the resultant insulin response.

Xylitol - Osteoporosis

Xylitol also appears to have potential as a treatment for osteoporosis. A group of Finnish researchers have found that dietary xylitol prevents weakening of bones in laboratory rats, and actually improves bone density.^1,2

Xylitol - Ear infection

Studies³ [2] have shown that xylitol chewing gum can help prevent ear infections (acute otitis media); the act of chewing and swallowing assists with the disposal of earwax and clearing the middle ear, whilst the presence of xylitol prevents the growth of bacteria in the eustachian tubes which connect the nose and ear. [3]

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Medical applications", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki