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Diet
Changes Because of Tooth Loss Could
Lead to Heart Risk
CHICAGO, September 10, 2003 (HealthNewsDigest.com)
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. |
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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. |
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