New research suggests that a common dietary compound found in tomatoes may be linked to gum health in older adults.
A recently published study reports that older adults in the United States who do not consume enough lycopene in their diet face a much higher risk of developing severe periodontitis. The findings apply to adults ages 65 to 79 and show that risk levels vary depending on both race and sex. The research appeared in The Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging.
The study was led by Katherine Kwong from the Department of Human Development. She worked with researchers from Tulane University, the University of California San Diego, Yunnan University, Southern Illinois University, and Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center.
Researchers examined health and nutrition data from 1,227 participants who took part in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2009–2014). The analysis showed that gum disease was widespread among this age group. Nearly half of the participants, or 48.7 percent, had some form of periodontitis. At the same time, 77.9 percent were not getting enough lycopene in their diet, a carotenoid commonly found in tomatoes and other red fruits.
Association Between Lycopene and Periodontitis
After accounting for factors such as age, sex, race, smoking status, and education level, the researchers found a strong link between lycopene intake and gum health. Older adults who consumed adequate amounts of lycopene were far less likely to have severe periodontitis. Their odds were roughly one-third of those seen in participants with insufficient intake.
