How Much Does Plant Food (Fruits and Vegetables) Intake Affect the Prevention of Periodontal Disease in the Korean Elderly?

This study, as part of a study on the dietary lives of elderly people, investigates the association between plant food (fruit + non-starchy vegetable) intake and the prevention of periodontal disease among elderly people aged over 65 years. A total of 4514 subjects over 65 years of age participated in a dental survey, health behavior interview, and 24 h dietary recall test for the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Subjects with energy intake of less than 500 kcal or more than 5000 kcal were excluded. The results showed that plant food intake was inversely associated with the prevalence of periodontal disease in the elderly Korean population. The prevalence of periodontal disease decreased with increasing plant food consumption. Compared with those in tertile 1 (T1), subjects in tertile 3 (T3) showed a decrease in periodontal disease of about 26.7% (OR = 0.733). In conclusion, the consumption of plant food lowers the risk of periodontal disease, suggesting that it should be encouraged among elderly Koreans.

Is overweight/obesity a risk factor for periodontitis in young adults and adolescents?: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Obesity in young adults and adolescents is associated with chronic co-morbidities. This project investigated whether being overweight or obese is a risk factor for periodontitis in adolescents (13-17 years) and young adults (18-34 years).

METHODS

A search of 12 databases was conducted using Medical Subject Headings/Index and Emtree terms. Based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, articles published between 2003 and 2016 were screened that reported periodontal and anthropometric measures. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to appraise the quality of studies.

RESULTS

Of 25 eligible studies from 12 countries, 17 showed an association between obesity and periodontitis (odds ratios ranged from 1.1 to 4.5). The obesity indicators of body mass index, waist circumference, waist-hip ratio and body fat percentage were significantly associated with measures of periodontitis of bleeding on probing, plaque index, probing depths, clinical attachment loss, calculus, oral hygiene index and community periodontal index. Two prospective cohort studies in the review showed no significant association between obesity and periodontitis, but these studies had limitations of study design and used inappropriate epidemiological diagnostic measures of periodontitis.

CONCLUSION

There was evidence to suggest that obesity is associated with periodontitis in adolescents and young adults. Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO Registration Number: CRD42016046507.

Comparison of Calcium Intake Status by Region and Socioeconomic Status in Korea: The 2011-2013 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Background

Calcium is an essential element nutrient in our body, and insufficient calcium intake is very common in Korean. Socioeconomic status (SES) is known to be associated with quality of diet and health. The purpose of this study was to compare between calcium intake by region and SES.

Methods

This study used data from a nationally represented sample of Koreans (n=19,249) from 2011 to 2013 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We were divided into six regions: Seoul and Gyeonggi-do, Gangwon-do, Chungcheong-do, Jeolla-do, Gyeongsang-do, and Jeju-do. Daily calcium intake and dietary quality based on 24 hr recall data was calculated and analyzed by the sex, age, SES.

Results

The regions with the highest calcium intakes in both males and females were Seoul and Gyeonggi-do. The age groups with a significant difference in calcium intake, nutrient adequacy ratio, and nutrient density by region were 14 to 19, 20 to 29, and ≥65 years. Calcium intake and dietary quality were lowest in the low household income group. In terms of being a recipient of the dietary life supply, the calcium intake and dietary quality of the recipient group was low.

Conclusions

We found that daily calcium intake was very different by region and was significantly lower in region with lower SES. The findings of this study suggest social inequalities in calcium intake by region can be addressed in the development and implementation of tailored nutritional interventions to promote calcium nutritional status of Koreans.