Thursday, October 07, 2010

Europe okays xylitol claims to prevent tooth decay

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has approved a health claim for xylitol sugar-free chewing gum that it reduces the risk of tooth decay. The application was submitted by leading gum manufacturer, Wrigley, under Article 14 of the health claims process. This approval follows an earlier endorsement by EFSA in 2008 for a claim submitted by the Dutch and Finnish group Leaf Holland that xylitol-sweetened chewing gum was beneficial to dental health.

The de- and remineralisation equilibrium of teeth is mainly driven by saliva and the main contributors are flow rate and concentrations of calcium, phosphate, and bicarbonate. At rest, low amounts of saliva are secreted, but stimulation by chewing may increase saliva flow more than 10-fold. When flow rate increases, saliva concentration of calcium, phosphate and bicarbonate also increases, and such increases favour remineralisation of tooth crystals.

Scientists said that, in order to obtain the claimed effect, 2 to 3 grams of sugar-free chewing gum should be chewed for 20 minutes at least three times per day after meals. "This quantity and pattern of use of chewing gum can easily be included within a balanced diet," they added. However, the Panel notes that there is a risk of osmotic diarrhoea at excessive intakes of polyols such as xylitol, sorbitol and mannitol. Furthermore, it cautions that the use of chewing gum should be avoided in children less than three years of age owing to a high choking hazard with the product in this age group.

Steve - most xylitol is corn-derived, so if you are intolerant to corn, make sure you consume xylitol products that come from birch bark, like the Xylichew brand gum.

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