A new study published in the June issue of Community Dentistry And Oral Epidemiology has found that women with fewer teeth have unhealthier diets such as decreased intake of fruits and vegetables. The objective was to evaluate the associations between tooth loss and the self-reported consumption of fruits and vegetables and selected nutrients implicated in the prevention of cardio-vascular disease.

The researchers from the Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health and Harvard School of Dental Medicine ,looked at the associations between tooth loss and the self-reported consumption of fruits and vegetables and other nutrients with specific reference to cardio vascular disease.

After adjusting for age, total calorie intake, smoking and physical activity, edentulous women appeared to have dietary intake associated with increased risk for CVD, including significantly higher intake of saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol and vitamin B12, and lower intake of polyunsaturated fat, fiber, carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin B6, folate, potassium, vegetables, fruits, and fruits excluding juices compared with women with 25-32 teeth. In the longitudinal analyses, women who lost more teeth were more likely to change their diet in ways that would potentially increase risk for development of CVD. They also tended to avoid hard foods, such as raw carrot, fresh apple or pear.

The study concluded that women with fewer teeth have unhealthier diets such as decreased intake of fruits and vegetables, which could increase CVD risk. Diet may partially explain associations between oral health and cardiovascular disease.

Community Dentistry And Oral Epidemiology Volume 33 Issue 3 Page 167 - June 2005 (posted 1st Aug 2005)