IADR Abstract Archives
Effect of Infant Formulas on Enamel Demineralization
Objectives: Infant formulas may contain lactose, maltodextrins or a mixture of these carbohydrates that are fermented by dental biofilm to acids and per se can provoke enamel demineralization. In addition, if they were sweetened with sucrose higher demineralization might occur. Therefore, using the cariogenic Streptococcus mutans model, we evaluated the effect of infant formulas, having or not sucrose added, on enamel demineralization.
Methods: Biofilms of S. mutans UA159 were formed on saliva-coated bovine enamel of surface hardness (SH) known. Infant formulas contained 8.0% lactose (Nan-2, Nestlé®), 7.2% maltodextrin (Nan-Soja, Nestlé®) or a mixture of 6.2% lactose and 2.1% maltodextrin (Nestogeno, Nestlé®) as the carbohydrate source. Biofilms were exposed 8 times a day, for 3-min, to one of the 8 treatments (n=9): only purified water (negative control); only 10% sucrose solution (positive control); and the three formulas prepared in water or in a 10% sucrose solution. The effect of salivary amylase on starch-products was considered, as previously described. After 96 h of formation, biofilms were collected to assess viable cells, biomass and extracellular polysaccharides (EPS). Enamel percentage of SH loss (%SHL) was evaluated as an indicator of demineralization. The results were statistically analyzed by two-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (α=5%).
Results: In the absence of sucrose (mean±SD;n=9), exposure to the formulas presented higher %SHL (Nan-2=5.0±1.6; Nestogeno=6.1±1.7; Nan-Soja=5.6±2.2) compared to negative control (0.6±0.3) (p>0.05). Adding sucrose to formulas increased demineralization (p<0.05), with Nan-Soja (34.9±13.6) similar to the positive control (31.5±9.2) (p>0.05), and higher than Nan-2 (13.0±9.9) and Nestogeno (16.9±7.5) (p<0.05). Higher amounts of biomass and insoluble EPS were found when sucrose was added; Nan-Soja group presented higher values when compared to the others (p<0.05).
Conclusions: In conclusion, infant formulas have cariogenic potential to cause enamel demineralization, which is higher when sucrose is added to the formulas, mainly for formulas containing only maltodextrins.
Methods: Biofilms of S. mutans UA159 were formed on saliva-coated bovine enamel of surface hardness (SH) known. Infant formulas contained 8.0% lactose (Nan-2, Nestlé®), 7.2% maltodextrin (Nan-Soja, Nestlé®) or a mixture of 6.2% lactose and 2.1% maltodextrin (Nestogeno, Nestlé®) as the carbohydrate source. Biofilms were exposed 8 times a day, for 3-min, to one of the 8 treatments (n=9): only purified water (negative control); only 10% sucrose solution (positive control); and the three formulas prepared in water or in a 10% sucrose solution. The effect of salivary amylase on starch-products was considered, as previously described. After 96 h of formation, biofilms were collected to assess viable cells, biomass and extracellular polysaccharides (EPS). Enamel percentage of SH loss (%SHL) was evaluated as an indicator of demineralization. The results were statistically analyzed by two-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (α=5%).
Results: In the absence of sucrose (mean±SD;n=9), exposure to the formulas presented higher %SHL (Nan-2=5.0±1.6; Nestogeno=6.1±1.7; Nan-Soja=5.6±2.2) compared to negative control (0.6±0.3) (p>0.05). Adding sucrose to formulas increased demineralization (p<0.05), with Nan-Soja (34.9±13.6) similar to the positive control (31.5±9.2) (p>0.05), and higher than Nan-2 (13.0±9.9) and Nestogeno (16.9±7.5) (p<0.05). Higher amounts of biomass and insoluble EPS were found when sucrose was added; Nan-Soja group presented higher values when compared to the others (p<0.05).
Conclusions: In conclusion, infant formulas have cariogenic potential to cause enamel demineralization, which is higher when sucrose is added to the formulas, mainly for formulas containing only maltodextrins.