Antioxidant Intake Influences Periodontal Health
In May 2012, a new study reported that higher intake of antioxidants may moderate periodontal disease in older adults. Periodontal disease, defined as at least one periodontal site with 3 millimeters or more of attachment loss and 4 millimeters or more of pocket depth, affects 17.2 percent of seniors age 65 and over.
The subjects included 264 individuals 75 years of age. The investigators assessed dietary antioxidant intake including vitamin C, vitamin E, alpha-carotene and beta-carotene using a food frequency questionnaire. At the beginning of the study and at follow-up examinations, the researchers evaluated periodontal status, measured as the clinical attachment level. Periodontal disease progression was defined as loss of attachment of 3 mm or greater during the two-year follow-up period at the interproximal site for each tooth. Additionally, the number of teeth with periodontal disease progression per person was recorded.
The researchers determined that higher intake of dietary antioxidants was inversely associated with the number of teeth with periodontal disease progression, meaning as antioxidant intake increased, the number of teeth with progression of periodontal disease decreased. The subjects with the highest intake of vitamin C showed a 28 percent decreased incidence of periodontal disease progression, those with the highest vitamin E intake showed a 45 percent reduction and the subjects with the highest beta-carotene intake showed a 27 percent reduction.
The investigators stated, “The study results suggest that higher intake of antioxidants may mitigate periodontal disease in community-dwelling older Japanese.”
Reference:
Iwasaki M, et al. Public Health Nutr. 2012 May 22:1-9.
