The relationship among dental status, nutrient intake, and nutritional status in older people

Dental health status may influence nutrition. The objective of this part of the National Diet and Nutrition Survey was to assess if there is a relatio nship between dental status in people 65 years and older and intake of cert ain nutrients and any link between dental status and blood-derived values o f key nutrients. Random national samples of independently living subjects a nd those living in institutions had dental examinations, interviews, four-d ay food diaries, and blood and urine analyzed. In the sample living indepen dently, intakes of most nutrients were lower in edentate than dentate subje cts. Intake of non-starch polysaccharides, protein, calcium, non-heme iron, niacin, and vitamin C was significantly lower in edentate subjects. People with 21 or more teeth consumed more of most nutrients, particularly of non -starch polysaccharide. This relationship in intake was not apparent in the hematological analysis. Plasma ascorbate and plasma retinol were the only analytes significantly associated with dental status.