IADR Abstract Archives
Is sugar consumption an associative factor for obesity and periodontitis in Australian adults?
Objectives: Dietary sugars are associated with both periodontitis and obesity, and obesity is also associated with periodontitis. However, this association has not been explored in Australia. Further investigation of the triangular relationship between diet, obesity and periodontitis in an Australian population is needed as they have major public health implications. This study aims to assess the association of dietary sugars with obesity and periodontitis.
Methods: The National Survey of Adult Oral Health 2004-2006 (NSAOH) collected a 13-item food frequency questionnaire for top contributors to dietary sugar intake in Western populations. Using the AusNut2013 database in FoodWorks Professional, a nutritional analysis software, each food item was assigned a gram value for total carbohydrates, total sugars and added sugars, and using frequency data, each individual was assigned an estimated grams/day intake for these three dietary variables. SPSS-24 was used for descriptive statistics, bivariate associations of BMI and CDC Case Definition of Periodontitis with demographics, health behaviours, dental caries exposure and dietary sugars. Logistic regression modelling was used for multiple variable analysis.
Results: Obesity and periodontal disease were both significantly associated with age, sex, smoking, education, usual reason for dental visiting, DMFT, and total carbohydrates (p<0.05). In bivariate analysis, obesity was significantly associated with periodontitis (p<0.05). In multiple variable analysis, having periodontitis was 1.65 times higher in overweight/obese individuals as compared to normal weight/underweight individuals (p<0.001), when the factors of age, sex, smoking, education, usual reason for dental visiting, DMFT, total carbohydrates, total sugar and added sugars were controlled.
Conclusions: Sugar consumption did not attenuate the association between obesity and periodontitis in Australian adults in 2004-06. This may be due to the cross-sectional nature of NSAOH, and limitations of the dietary indicators. Further research into the association between diet, obesity and periodontitis is warranted.
Methods: The National Survey of Adult Oral Health 2004-2006 (NSAOH) collected a 13-item food frequency questionnaire for top contributors to dietary sugar intake in Western populations. Using the AusNut2013 database in FoodWorks Professional, a nutritional analysis software, each food item was assigned a gram value for total carbohydrates, total sugars and added sugars, and using frequency data, each individual was assigned an estimated grams/day intake for these three dietary variables. SPSS-24 was used for descriptive statistics, bivariate associations of BMI and CDC Case Definition of Periodontitis with demographics, health behaviours, dental caries exposure and dietary sugars. Logistic regression modelling was used for multiple variable analysis.
Results: Obesity and periodontal disease were both significantly associated with age, sex, smoking, education, usual reason for dental visiting, DMFT, and total carbohydrates (p<0.05). In bivariate analysis, obesity was significantly associated with periodontitis (p<0.05). In multiple variable analysis, having periodontitis was 1.65 times higher in overweight/obese individuals as compared to normal weight/underweight individuals (p<0.001), when the factors of age, sex, smoking, education, usual reason for dental visiting, DMFT, total carbohydrates, total sugar and added sugars were controlled.
Conclusions: Sugar consumption did not attenuate the association between obesity and periodontitis in Australian adults in 2004-06. This may be due to the cross-sectional nature of NSAOH, and limitations of the dietary indicators. Further research into the association between diet, obesity and periodontitis is warranted.