Exactly the opposite

If it is read, it is not understood, if it is understood, it is not so

The Daily Telegraph and other foreign tabloids published a sensational note that patients using dentures are malnourished because they cannot chew healthy and healthy food, there is a high risk of joint and muscle diseases. A summary of the "duck" can be read in the RIA Novosti note "Scientists have told about the dangers of dentures."

The National Health Service of Great Britain hastened to clarify what is actually written in the article misrepresented by journalists.

Newspaper articles with loud headlines refer to a study that examined the relationship of wearing dentures with the development of nutritional deficiencies and muscle weakness. The study involved about 1,800 adult patients over the age of 50. It was stated that the presence of less than 20 teeth in a person is associated with insufficient nutrition, regardless of whether he uses prostheses or not.

Contrary to the headlines in well-known publications, in the group of patients with dentures, muscle strength did not differ from the control group of patients who had more than 20 of their teeth.

The researchers compared the health status of patients who had less than 20 teeth and who used dentures with those who had the same number of teeth but did not use dentures. A statistically significant advantage of dentures for proper nutrition was found. In other words, dentures contributed to the prevention of diseases associated with nutritional deficiencies.

It is quite obvious that proper nutrition is of great importance for the elderly, which is confirmed by the study: it has been proven that the condition of the oral cavity is one of the factors influencing this.

Where did this story come from?

The study referred to by the authors of the articles was conducted by a group of scientists from the Royal College of London Dental Institute. It was published in the authoritative medical journal "Geriatrics & Gerontology International".

For some reason, the Daily Telegraph and Mail Online distorted the results of the study, presenting dentures as the cause of malnutrition and diseases developing as a result. Although the published study clearly states that the worst results were in those patients who did not use dentures, but who were shown them.

The design of the study is a cross–sectional analysis. The aim of its authors is to identify whether the condition of the oral cavity is a factor that can affect the health of the elderly. They write that no one has raised this issue before.

Of course, the study has drawbacks. So, it is impossible to confidently assert that it was the condition of the oral cavity that caused these or other conditions, because not all concomitant diseases were taken into account. This is due to the fact that the design of the study involves simultaneous data collection, not dynamic observation.

The researchers used data obtained during the annual preventive examination of elderly people in the United States as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted in 2011-2012. The study included 1,852 people over the age of 50 (average age 62) who lived in their own home. After analysis , they were divided into three groups:

· patients with more than 20 teeth;

· patients with less than 20 teeth and using dentures;

· patients who have less than 20 teeth and do not use dentures.

The milestone of 20 teeth was chosen for a reason: in previous studies, it was proved that the presence of 20 teeth is enough for full-fledged chewing of food.

Participants were interviewed twice within 10 days about what they had eaten in the past 24 hours in order to assess the nature of the diet according to the FDA recommendations. Nutrition was considered complete if there were 13 components in the diet:

· squirrel;

· polyunsaturated fats;

· fiber;

· eight vitamins (including vitamin D);

· two minerals – calcium and zinc.

The disadvantage of one of the listed components was estimated at 1 point. The points received were summed up, and 0 points indicated full nutrition, 13 – incomplete.

Muscle strength was assessed on both hands using a wrist dynamometer. It was considered insufficient with indicators of less than 20 kg for women and less than 30 kg for men.

After that, the researchers assessed whether there was a relationship between the number of teeth/the presence of a prosthesis and muscle strength. Factors that could have influenced the results of the study were taken into account in the statistical analysis (for example, underweight or obesity, physical activity level, social status, chronic heart disease, arthritis or cancer).

Insufficient muscle strength was determined in every tenth patient (9%). Most often they were people with insufficient weight, malnutrition, lack of physical activity, lonely.

A group of patients with 20 or fewer teeth who did not use prostheses were 30% more likely to have a lack of muscle strength compared to patients with more than 20 teeth (odds ratio 1.32, confidence interval 1.04-1.68).

Patients with insufficient teeth who did not use dentures had a higher risk of nutritional deficiency compared to those who had more than 20 teeth. The analysis conducted by the researchers showed the dependence of malnutrition with poor dental condition, but they noted the need to take into account the influence of diabetes mellitus, underweight and lack of physical activity in the following works.

There was no difference in muscle strength when comparing groups of patients with 20 or more teeth and patients with fewer than 20 teeth, but using prostheses. The intake of nutrients in the second group was lower.

Interpreting the results, the researchers write that dental status affects the state of the musculoskeletal system, and emphasize the importance of oral health for the consumption of foods necessary for the body.

Despite the headlines of newspaper articles, dentures are a great way to reduce the risk of nutrient deficiency and avoid related diseases. Obviously, they should not be neglected by those who have less than 20 teeth.

The main drawback of the study is the impossibility of dynamic observation and a more accurate assessment of the relationship between dental health, nutrition and muscle strength. In other words, the design of the study does not allow us to determine which of the above is primary and which is a consequence. In addition, the results could be influenced by other factors that were not taken into account in the study.

Nevertheless, there is no doubt about the need to maintain oral health, because it is one of the factors on which such an important nutrition for an elderly body depends.

Article by Seoyoung Lee et al. The association between number of teeth, use of dentures and musculoskeletal frailty among older adults is published in the journal Geriatrics & Gerontology International.

Aminat Adzhieva, portal "Eternal Youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru according to the National Health Service: Denture wearers may have a risk of poor nutrition – but no link to fraud.