Inability of low levels of sorbitol and mannitol to support caries activity in rats.

Under the environmental conditions of these experiments, neither 5 nor 10% sorbitol or mannitol in diets containing 62 or 57% corn starch, respectively, was capable of increasing the caries activity in rats above the level supported by a 67% starch diet. In contrast, 5% sucrose in the presence of 62% corn starch caused a slight increase and 10% sucrose in the presence of 57% starch caused a significant increase in caries activity beyond that observed when the diet containing 67% starch as the only carbohydrate was fed.