Less irritative action of wine and Japanese sake in rat stomachs: a comparative study with ethanol

Socioeconomics, health-related factors, and tooth loss among the population aged over 80 years in China

Background

The prevalence of tooth loss varies across the globe among oldest-old individuals. The presence of fewer than 20 teeth in old age was associated with a decrease in people’s health and quality of life. This paper explored the association between socioeconomics, health-related factors, and tooth loss among the population over the age of 80 in China.

Methods

The tooth loss status of older Chinese adults was collected with a structured questionnaire from the 8^th wave of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). A total of 6716 individuals aged 80 years and above were included. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between socioeconomic statuses, dietary intake at approximately 60 years old, health-related factors, and tooth loss.

Results

Of the 6716 individuals aged 80 years and above, the composition of the group with fewer teeth for both men and women was statistically significant in many ways. Multivariate logistic regression analyses show that for men, being older than 90 years and being ADL disabled (adjusted OR: 1.71, 95% CI: 1.01–2.89) are factors that are significantly and consistently associated with a higher risk of having fewer than 20 teeth, while having a higher household income per capita (adjusted OR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.32–0.99) decreases the risk. For women, an age of above 95 years, brushing teeth less than once per day (adjusted OR: 1.96, 95% CI: 1.26–3.03), consuming sugar some of the time as opposed to less than once per month at approximately 60 years old (adjusted OR = 1.74, 95% CI: 1.15–2.62), and being ADL disabled (adjusted OR: 1.70, 95% CI: 1.04–2.77) are factors that are significantly associated with the risk of having fewer than 20 teeth.

Conclusion

The analysis suggests that socioeconomic status, dietary intake in early old age, and ADL capacity are associated with the risk of having fewer teeth for the population aged 80 years and above, and the risk factors vary between sexes.

Association of total tooth loss with smoking, drinking alcohol and nutrition in elderly Japanese: analysis of national database

OBJECTIVE

Various factors may be associated with edentulism in elderly people. Association of total tooth loss with smoking, alcohol intake and nutrition in non-institutionalised elderly Japanese was assessed utilising national database.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Records of independent surveys, the Survey of Dental Diseases (SDD) and the National Nutrition Survey (NNS) in 1999 were electronically linked using the household identification number.

RESULTS

Among the records of 6903 subjects in the SDD and 12 763 subjects in the NNS, 6805 records were successfully linked. Overall, prevalence of total tooth loss in adults was very similar in males and females at approximately 7.0%, and the smoking rate was 47.6% and 9.9% respectively. Total tooth loss was a rare phenomenon (<2%) in age groups of <60 years. According to the multiple logistic regression analysis involving 2200 subjects aged 60 years or older, significant variables were age, current smokers and vitamin C intake in males, and age and current smokers in females. The variable for current drinkers was significant in females but the odds ratio was <1.0. No significant relationship was detected with respect to former smokers and drinkers, body mass index, vitamin E intake and blood glucose level.

CONCLUSIONS

Current smoking was associated with total tooth loss, although smoking rate was low in females. Gender difference in the association was suggestive with respect to drinking alcohol and vitamin C intake.