Developmental and post-developmental influences on incidence of experimental dental caries resulting from dietary supplementation by various elements

Sucrose and starch intake contribute to reduced alveolar bone height in a rodent model of naturally occurring periodontitis

While there is a burgeoning interest in the effects of nutrition on systemic inflammatory diseases, how dietary macronutrient balance impacts local chronic inflammatory diseases in the mouth has been largely overlooked. Here, we used the Geometric Framework for Nutrition to test how the amounts of dietary macronutrients and their interactions, as well as carbohydrate type (starch vs sucrose vs resistant starch) influenced periodontitis-associated alveolar bone height in mice. Increasing intake of carbohydrates reduced alveolar bone height, while dietary protein had no effect. Whether carbohydrate came from sugar or starch did not influence the extent of alveolar bone height. In summary, the amount of carbohydrate in the diet modulated periodontitis-associated alveolar bone height independent of the source of carbohydrates.

Molybdenum: an essential trace element

Molybdenum is found in most foods, with legumes, dairy products, and meats being the richest sources. This metal is considered essential because it is part of a complex called molybdenum cofactor that is required for the three mammalian enzymes xanthine oxidase (XO), aldehyde oxidase (AO), and sulfite oxidase (SO). XO participates in the metabolism of purines, AO catalyzes the conversion of aldehydes to acids, and SO is involved in the metabolism of sulfur-containing amino acids. Molybdenum deficiency is not found in free-living humans, but deficiency is reported in a patient receiving prolonged total parenteral nutrition with clinical signs characterized by tachycardia, headache, mental disturbances, and coma. The biochemical abnormalities in this acquired molybdenum deficiency include very low levels of uric acid in serum and urine (low XO activity) and low inorganic sulfate levels in urine (low SO activity). Inborn errors of isolated deficiencies of XO, SO, and molybdenum cofactor are described. Although XO deficiency is relatively benign, patients with isolated deficiencies of SO or molybdenum cofactor exhibit mental retardation, neurologic problems, and ocular lens dislocation. These abnormalities seem to be caused by the toxicity of sulfite and/or inadequate amounts of inorganic sulfate available for the formation of sulfated compounds present in the brain. XO and AO may also participate in the inactivation of some toxic substances, inasmuch as studies suggest that molybdenum deficiency is a factor in the higher incidence of esophageal cancer in populations consuming food grown in molybdenum-poor soil.

Effects of molybdenum on human enamel fluoride uptake and experimental rat dental caries

The addition of high concentrations of molybdenum to a topically applied sodium fluoride solution did not result in a statistically significant increase in fluoride uptake into subsurface lesions in human enamel when compared to that after treatment with fluoride alone in vitro. The addition of 3000 parts/10(6) molybdenum to a 1000 parts/10(6) fluoride topical solution had no impact in vivo on the cariostatic activity of topically applied fluoride in rats.

Inhibitory effect of barium on human caries prevalence

The aim of this investigation was to determine if barium in drinking water, in combination with fluoride, has an effect on caries prevalence in a human population. Children, aged 12-14 yr, were selected from two towns which had a similar socioeconomic and racial balance but one had a barium concentration of 8.0-10.0 ppm in its drinking water and the other a level which was less than 0.03 ppm. The caries prevalence, as mean DMFS, was significantly lower in the high barium town (2.76 +/- 0.82) than in the low barium town (5.14 +/- 0.65). The difference in mottling scores between the two towns was not significant (P = 0.44, chi-square test). This difference in mean DMFS between the high and low barium communities could not be explained by an effect of other covariate factors.

Dental caries prevalence in Texas schoolchildren using water supplies with high and low lithium and fluoride

The effect of lithium (Li) in drinking water on caries prevalence in seven Texas towns was investigated. Children (life-long residents) aged 12-14 years were examined for caries prevalence, as DMFS, in towns with drinking water Li concentrations ranging from 0.0 to 165 micrograms/L and fluoride (F) concentrations ranging from 0.20 to 1.94 mg/L. A significant negative relationship was found between F in drinking water and DMFS. When corrected for the F contribution, Li in water supplies showed a positive correlation with DMFS.

An experimental study of lithium and dental caries in the rat

Lithium chloride, given via the drinking water, was tested for its effect on dental caries. In a preliminary experiment lithium at concentrations of 0, 5, 20, 40, 60, 125 and 250 microgram/l showed a significant dose-related effect by ANOVA with the lowest smooth-surface scores at 20 microgram Li. Lithium was also used at 20 microgram/l with and without fluoride at 5, 10 and 20 mg/l. No greater effect on caries was seen of the lithium-fluoride combination than fluoride alone. Using 0, 5, 20 and 40 microgram Li/l, and larger groups of rats, a trend for lower caries was seen but the variance of the data was too large to be statistically significant. Despite a number of epidemiologic studies associating low caries prevalence with lithium, animal model research has not demonstrated a clear reduction in caries due to lithium added to the drinking water.

Effects of fluoride, lithium and strontium on extracellular polysaccharide production by Streptococcus mutans and Actinomyces viscosus

Effects of trace elements on production of extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) by S. mutans and A. viscosus were examined in vitro. Fluoride enhanced EPS production. Lithium and strontium had little effect alone, but tended to reverse the effect of fluoride. The proportion of water-soluble EPS and the proportion of glucosyl-EPS were increased by fluoride.

In vivo and in vitro study of 48V uptake in developing rat molar enamel

The uptake of 48V in developing rat molar enamel was studied in vivo and in vitro using autoradiographic and quantitative methods. It was shown that the uptake of 48V in enamel is less than in bone and dentin, and that plasma protein binding of 48V is primarily responsible for the limited uptake in enamel.

Influence of lithium upon dental caries in the rat

Two studies were performed on rats to determine the post-eruptive cariostatic effects of lithium alone and in combination with fluoride. The results failed to demonstrate any cariostatic effects of lithium when evaluated in this manner, nor any enhancement by lithium of the cariostatic activity of fluoride.

Postdevelopmental effects of boron, fluoride, and their combination on dental caries activity in the rat

Drinking water of rats aged 21 days was supplemented with 1, 10, 30, 50, 100, or 283 ppm of boron or 10 or 25 ppm of fluoride individually or in combination. All rats were fed a cariogenic diet. Boron did not reduce dental caries activity in erupted molars after eight weeks. When given in combination, it partially antagonized the cariostatic effect of fluoride.