[Contribution to the microbial catabolism of xylitol]

Five xylitol metabolizing streptococci strains from the oral cavity of the rat were examined with regard to their metabolic capacities for xylitol, sorbitol, mannitol, fructose, glucose and saccharose by means of the Warburg technique. The amounts metabolized were smallest with xylitol and sorbitol and considerably bigger with mannitol and fructose. By far the highest CO2 values were obtained with glucose, while saccharose was not metabolized at all. The experimental results confirm the weak metabolic capability of these organisms with regard to the sugar substitute xylitol.