Effect of Lysine Provided by Different Routes on Cariogenicity of Lysine Deficient Diet

Abstract

Conclusions

(1) Administration of L-lysine in food, water and by intubation, to rats receiving a highly cariogenic lysine-deficient diet containing autoclaved skim milk powder, significantly inhibited smooth surface caries as diagnosed in these experiments. Although L-lysine as administered by injection was utilized for growth, it did not clearly inhibit caries. (2) When administered by intubation L-lysine was cariostatic. The result suggests a systemic involvement in this action of lysine on dental caries. This hypothesis gains support in the fact that injection of lysine resulted in less than 1 mg% lysine in rats'saliva.