Number of teeth and serum lipid peroxide in 85-year-olds

To investigate influence of dental status on systemic oxidative stress, we evaluated the association between number of teeth and serum lipid peroxide, an oxidative stress index, in 85-years old residents of Japan.

In October 2003, 207 subjects 85-years old agreed to participate in the present follow-up study after five years from the 8020 Data Bank Survey of Fukuoka prefecture in 1998. Dental health condition including number of teeth was examined by dentists. Data from 204 subjects (88 male, 116 female) who completed nonfasting venous blood examination including lipid peroxide and blood chemistry were analyzed. The examination included a medical questionnaire regarding smoking history, physical activity, alcohol consumption, educational duration, and regular dental care, anthropometric and manometric measurements.

Albumin, lipids, and lipid peroxide in serum all were within the normal range. Number of teeth correlated positively with height and white blood cell count, and correlated negatively with lipid peroxide. In a multiple regression analysis to adjust for confounding factors, tooth number retained this correlation with lipid peroxide. By analysis of variance with a Bonferroni-Dunn correction, edentulous subjects showed significantly higher lipid peroxide than those retaining 20 teeth or more.

The negative association between number of teeth and lipid peroxide links more teeth remaining with less oxidative stress in an 85-year-old population; this may decrease risk of atherosclerotic complications.