Periodontal Disease and Nutrition in South Vietnam

Abstract

Over 2,000 Vietnamese aged through 86 years were examined for periodontal disease in the course of an ICNND nutrition survey. Prevalance of disease tended to be higher in villages where the typical diet was relatively low in total calories, protein, carbohydrate, riboflavin and Fe, but relatively high in niacin and Ca. There were strong correlations between disease scores and age, and between disease scores and the presence and amount of debris and calculus in the mouth. When considered simultaneously with age, debris and calculus, no strong association between any specific nutrient and disease was demonstrated. The findings are consistent with those of comparable studies in Alaska, Ethiopia, Ecuador, Montana, Chile, and Ceylon.