Comparative evaluation of human breast milk, bovine milk, and infant milk formula on cariogenicity in children: An in vivo study.

Aim: The aim of the study was to compare the cariogenicity of human breast milk (HBM), bovine milk, and infant milk formulas.

Patients and methods: Ninety children of 1-4 years were randomly selected according to the type of milk they consume and were divided into five groups: Group I - HBM, Group II - cow milk, Group III - buffalo milk, Group IV - Lactogen 2, and Group V - Dexolac 4. Three parameters were assessed (salivary pH, plaque pH, and Streptococcus mutans count). Baseline salivary pH was measured, plaque sample was collected from children before feeding, and then, children were fed with milk. The second sample was collected after 45 min of feeding and the third sample after 3 h of second sample collection. Collected plaque samples were assessed for plaque pH and were sent to microbiological laboratory and cultured on blood agar. The intergroup comparison was done by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey test. Intragroup comparison was done by one-way anova and Bonferroni test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: No statistically significant difference in intra- and intergroup comparisons of salivary pH was noted. However, with regard to plaque pH, there is a statistically significant difference in the second sample in Groups III, IV, and V. There was an increase in colony-forming units of S. mutans in plaque samples from baseline to the third sample in Groups IV and V.

Conclusion: Lactogen 2 and Dexolac 4 showed greater cariogenic activity, buffalo milk is mildly cariogenic, whereas HBM and cow milk showed least cariogenicity.