Diet Changes Because of Tooth Loss Could
Lead to Heart Risk (October 2003)
Changes in diet because of tooth loss could increase the risk
of
developing chronic ailments, including cardiovascular
disease, according to a study in this month's Journal of the
American Dental Association (JADA).
In the study, researchers assessed the relationship between tooth
loss and changes in diet over an eight-year period among 31,813
male
health professionals. They focused on consumption of specific
foods
and nutrients associated with cardiovascular and other systemic
diseases. These included fruits, vegetables, certain vitamins,
fiber, cholesterol and specific types of fats.
"The results of this study support the detrimental impact
of tooth
loss on dietary intake," the Harvard University researchers
concluded. "Our results suggest that changes in diet owing
to tooth
loss could contribute to an increased risk of chronic disease
that
has been associated with poor dentition."
During the study period from 1986 to 1994, 78.3 percent of the
men
did not lose teeth, 18.8 percent lost one to four teeth, and 2.8
percent lost five or more teeth.
In general, the researchers reported that study participants changed
their diet in a healthier manner over the eight years. They reduced
their consumption of saturated fat and cholesterol, and increased
their consumption of most beneficial nutrients and fruits and
vegetables.
However, according to the study, the dietary change of men who
lost
five or more teeth was unhealthier than that of men who lost no
teeth.
For example, men who lost five or more teeth had a greater reduction
in intake of vitamin E, a significantly smaller reduction in
consumption of dietary cholesterol and a smaller increase in their
intake of dietary fiber and whole fruits than those who did not
lose
any teeth.
In contrast, men without tooth loss had greater reductions in
daily
dietary intake of saturated fat and cholesterol. They also had
greater increases in dietary fiber, carotene and fruits compared
with men who lost teeth.
Researchers also found that men who lost more teeth were more
likely
to stop eating hard-to-chew foods such as apples, pears and raw
carrots while they maintained similar or increased consumption
of
soft foods such as bananas, cantaloupes and cooked carrots.
