Nutrition counseling increases fruit and vegetable intake in the edentulous

Area of Science:

• Oral health and nutrition science
• Behavioral science in health

Background:

• Edentulous denture wearers consume fewer fruits and vegetables compared to dentate individuals.
• Improvements in chewing ability from new dentures alone show limited dietary impact, indicating a need for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a tailored dietary intervention on the dietary behavior of patients receiving replacement complete dentures.
• To assess changes in readiness to change diet, fruit and vegetable intake, nutrient consumption, and chewing ability.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving two groups: an intervention group (n=30) receiving dietary counseling and a control group (n=28) receiving standard care.
• Assessments of diet, nutritional intake, chewing ability, and Stage of Change were conducted before and 6 weeks after the intervention.

Main Results:

• Both groups reported significant increases in perceived chewing ability.
• The intervention group showed a greater positive shift in Stages of Change towards dietary action.
• Fruit and vegetable consumption increased significantly more in the intervention group (+209 g/d) compared to the control group (+26 g/d).

Conclusions:

• Tailored dietary interventions delivered concurrently with replacement complete dentures can positively influence dietary behavior.
• Nutritional support is crucial for edentulous patients to improve fruit and vegetable intake beyond enhanced chewing function.