During fasting, salivary glycans serve as a carbohydrate source for bacteria.

During fasting, salivary glycans serve as a carbohydrate source for bacteria.

• A. False
• B. Not enough data
• C. Sometimes
• D. True

Answer: (D)

During fasting, when exogenous dietary sugars are limited, bacteria in the mouth can still find usable carbon from host-derived substrates. Saliva contains glycoproteins and mucins with attached glycans. Many oral bacteria produce glycosidases that cleave these glycan chains, releasing sugars such as galactose, N-acetylglucosamine, fucose, and even sialic acid. Those liberated sugars feed bacterial growth and can contribute to acid production, helping some members persist in plaque between meals. Because this relies on bacterial enzymes and the available glycan pool, the idea that salivary glycans serve as a carbohydrate source during fasting is correct.

During fasting, when exogenous dietary sugars are limited, bacteria in the mouth can still find usable carbon from host-derived substrates. Saliva contains glycoproteins and mucins with attached glycans. Many oral bacteria produce glycosidases that cleave these glycan chains, releasing sugars such as galactose, N-acetylglucosamine, fucose, and even sialic acid. Those liberated sugars feed bacterial growth and can contribute to acid production, helping some members persist in plaque between meals. Because this relies on bacterial enzymes and the available glycan pool, the idea that salivary glycans serve as a carbohydrate source during fasting is correct.