The influence of dietary carbohydrates on in vitro adherence of four Candida species to human buccal epithelial cells

Abstract

The adherence of four Candida species to human buccal epithelial cells (BECs) following treatment with the most commonly consumed dietary carbohydrates was investigated in vitro. Adhesion of C. albicans, C. tropicalis, C. glabrata and C. parapsilosis was significantly promoted by incubation in minimal medium containing a high concentration (500 mM) of fructose, galactose, glucose, maltose, sorbitol or sucrose (p < 0.001). C. albicans grown in galactose elicited maximal increase in adhesion followed by glucose and sucrose. Maltose and fructose also promoted adherence of Candida spp. but to a lesser extent than galactose and glucose, while no statistical difference in adherence was observed when Candida spp. were grown in the presence of lactose and trehalose. Xylitol significantly reduced adherence of Candida spp. to BECs. No statistically significant difference in the adherence capabilities of different growth phases of C. albicans was noted, and the effect of galactose and glucose persisted irrespective of the phase of growth used. The dietary carbohydrates, therefore, might represent a risk factor for oral candidosis. The limitation of their consumption by substituting xylitol could be of value in the control of oral Candida colonization and infection. © 2005 Taylor & Francis.