Dental Caries and Tryptophane Deficiency

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Abstract
A low content of tryptophane or similar indole-containing molecule in saliva shows a correlation with rampant dental decay. Individuals having active and rampant caries show only a trace of tryptophane by glyoxylic acid, concentrated H2SO4 test. Individuals free from caries show from 3/8 in.-1 in. purple coloration when this test is applied to their saliva. Two other tests were applied to these salivas: 1) dextrinizing time; 2) decolorization time. Long dextrinizing and short decolorization correlated with freedom from caries; short dextrinizing and long decolorization correlated with rampant caries. The redox poise drop of these salivas was studied on the Beckman potentiometer. As an incident to the exptl. ingestion of crystalline d-l-tryptophane, a small group of young adults volunteered to undergo an expt. to test blood sugar drop. The changes in fasting blood sugar levels following these ingestions appear to be significant. Among the 9 subjects, only 1 failed to show a decrease in the blood sugar level. For the other 8, the avg. fasting blood sugar before tryptophane was 96 mg. (range, 75-113 mg.)/ 100 ml., and after tryptophane 70 mg. (range, 63-88 mg.). In 2 control subjects, there was an avg. gain in the blood sugar level of 3 mg./100 ml.