ENERGY-INTAKE, DENTAL-CARIES AND PERIODONTAL-DISEASE IN 11-YEAR-OLD BLACK-CHILDREN IN 2 REGIONS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA - KWAZULU AND NAMIBIA

The study examined energy intake in relation to dental caries and peri odontal disease in 11-yr-old rural and urban black children in low flu oride areas of KwaZulu and Namibia (0.15 ppm F) and one higher fluorid e area of Namibia (1.56 ppm F). Twenty-four hour dietary recalls were conducted by trained interviewers and daily energy intake estimated us ing the MRC dietary analysis programme. DMFS was recorded according to WHO criteria; periodontal disease was measured using CPITN and SAS wa s used for statistical analysis. The prevalence of dental caries and p eriodontal disease (using CPITN), were compared within three energy gr oupings; less-than-or-equal-to 850 kcal/day; >850, <1400 kcal/day and greater-than-or-equal-to 1400 kcal/day. The rural low fluoride Namibia n children had the lowest mean energy intake (616 kcal/day), which als o was the grouping with highest healthy periodontal prevalence (65%). The urban groups had higher energy intakes than the rural communities. Statistically significant effects on caries prevalence were seen for country and fluoride grouping; for periodontal disease, significant ef fects were noted for country, fluoride group and environment. Energy i ntake had no statistically significant effect, so this is not a risk m arker for the disease.