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Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety
Question
DG XXI requested from the Scientific Committee on Medicinal Products and Medical Devices the following question:
Can the Committee agree with the conclusions of the report "Assessment of the beneficial effects of xylitol and other polyols on caries development" as prepared by independent scientists on behalf of the Commission services and more in particular with the conclusion that, as to its properties regarding caries development, as of today, no clear data exists to support the concept that xylitol possesses specific effects in vivo which validate a superiority claim other polyols? If not, can the Committee specify to what extent it disagrees?
Terms of reference
DG XXI requested from SCMPMD an opinion on xylitol and polyols with respect to the possibility of beneficial effects on the development of dental caries. In particular the Committee was asked if it agrees with the conclusions of the report "Assessment of the beneficial effects of xylitol and other polyols on caries development" as prepared by a group of independent scientists on behalf of the Commissions Services, and specifically with the opinion that, as today, no clear data exists to support the concept that xylitol possesses specific effects in vivo which validate a superiority claim over other polyols.
Answer
The Committee has assessed the various reports on this matter provided by DG XXI 1 and on the basis of these reports and their knowledge of the literature relating to dental caries, agrees with the conclusion that "there are, as of today, no clear data to support the concept that xylitol possesses specific effects in vivo which validate a superiority claim over other polyols."
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1 -Xylitol : Animal and Plaque Studies.-William H. Bowen, New York, USA.
-Influence of Xylitol and other Polyols on oral bacteria.-T.H. Grenby, London, UK.
-Assessment of beneficial effects of Xylitol and other Polyols on caries development : Review of the literature.- A.Aamdad Scheie, Oslo, Norway.
-Conclusions related to assessment of beneficial effects of Xylitol and other Polyols on caries development .- W.H.Bowen, T.H. Grenby and A.A. Scheie.
DG XXI requested from the Scientific Committee on Medicinal Products and Medical Devices the following question:
Can the Committee agree with the conclusions of the report "Assessment of the beneficial effects of xylitol and other polyols on caries development" as prepared by independent scientists on behalf of the Commission services and more in particular with the conclusion that, as to its properties regarding caries development, as of today, no clear data exists to support the concept that xylitol possesses specific effects in vivo which validate a superiority claim other polyols? If not, can the Committee specify to what extent it disagrees?
Terms of reference
DG XXI requested from SCMPMD an opinion on xylitol and polyols with respect to the possibility of beneficial effects on the development of dental caries. In particular the Committee was asked if it agrees with the conclusions of the report "Assessment of the beneficial effects of xylitol and other polyols on caries development" as prepared by a group of independent scientists on behalf of the Commissions Services, and specifically with the opinion that, as today, no clear data exists to support the concept that xylitol possesses specific effects in vivo which validate a superiority claim over other polyols.
Answer
The Committee has assessed the various reports on this matter provided by DG XXI 1 and on the basis of these reports and their knowledge of the literature relating to dental caries, agrees with the conclusion that "there are, as of today, no clear data to support the concept that xylitol possesses specific effects in vivo which validate a superiority claim over other polyols."
----------------------------------------
1 -Xylitol : Animal and Plaque Studies.-William H. Bowen, New York, USA.
-Influence of Xylitol and other Polyols on oral bacteria.-T.H. Grenby, London, UK.
-Assessment of beneficial effects of Xylitol and other Polyols on caries development : Review of the literature.- A.Aamdad Scheie, Oslo, Norway.
-Conclusions related to assessment of beneficial effects of Xylitol and other Polyols on caries development .- W.H.Bowen, T.H. Grenby and A.A. Scheie.
