[Association between tooth missing and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease]

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Dental Medicine
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a growing global health concern.
• Oral health, indicated by tooth loss, may be associated with systemic conditions.
• Understanding risk factors for NAFLD is crucial for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between the number of missing teeth and the prevalence of NAFLD.
• To explore potential links between dental health and liver disease in an adult population.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study of 26,983 adults from the Tianjin Chronic Low-grade Systemic Inflammation and Health Cohort.
• Categorization of missing teeth (excluding third molars) into 0, 1-2, 3-5, and ≥6.
• NAFLD diagnosis via at least two liver ultrasonography examinations.
• Multivariable logistic regression analysis to assess associations.

Main Results:

• The overall prevalence of NAFLD was observed in the study cohort.
• In males, a positive association was found between missing teeth and NAFLD prevalence, particularly with ≥6 missing teeth (OR=1.38, P=0.030).
• No significant association was found in females between the number of missing teeth and NAFLD prevalence.

Conclusions:

• A higher number of missing teeth, specifically six or more, is positively associated with increased NAFLD prevalence in adult males.
• The association between missing teeth and NAFLD was not significant in adult females.
• Further research may elucidate the mechanisms linking tooth loss and NAFLD.