THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MICRONUTRIENT DEPLETION AND ORAL HEALTH IN GERIATRICS

Changes in the oral microbial flora, some of which are related to muco sal disease, have been detected in the elderly, but the causes are not fully understood. This study has examined the possible role of micron utrient depletions in the reduced colonisation resistance and oral inf ection exhibited by some elderly subjects. The oral health, oral micro biology and micronutrient status of 37 geriatric patients aged 65-91 y ears (mean 81 years) were examined. Ten of the patients had no oral mu cosal disease. Mucosal pathology in the remainder included erythema (2 7%), denture stomatitis (24%), angular cheilitis (16%) and atrophic gl ossitis (41%). Those with mucosal pathology had significantly lower se rum iron concentrations (P=0.02). Serum or plasma concentrations of zi nc, copper, selenium, C-reactive protein, transferrin, caeruloplasmin, albumin, vitamin A and vitamin E were not significantly different bet ween those with oral disease and those with healthy mouths. Similarly, activity of the selenium-containing enzyme, red cell glutathione pero xidase, did not differ significantly between the two groups. In both g roups, plasma selenium concentrations (82%), red cell glutathione pero xidase activity (47%), plasma zinc concentrations (58%) and albumin co ncentrations (44%) tended to be below the lower limit of the reference interval. The influence of subclinical infection on these values is d iscussed.