ABSTRACT
Aim: To evaluate if dietary fermentable carbohydrate consumption associates with caries experience of youths and adults when assessed by a scoring system of putative cariogenicity of the foods. Methods: Two hundred and seventy five subjects (12 to 67 years-old) were examined to assess caries experience by the DMFT Index (decay missing and filled teeth) and radiographs. Subjects filled a weekly diet diary registering the type, frequency and time of consumption of foods. An arbitrary scoring system was used to determine cariogenic potential of the diet based on food consistency frequency and occasion of consumption. Results: DMFT index significantly increased with age (p<0.001). Females showed higher cariogenic potential than males (p=0.04). When subjects were divided into four DMFT categories, no differences were detected in cariogenic potential of the diet in any caries group. No correlation between caries experience and cariogenic potential of the diet could be found. Conclusions: Arbitrarily assigned cariogenicity of dietary fermentable carbohydrates does not seem to associate with caries experience, when information was obtained through a cariogenicity scoring system.
Objetivo: Evaluar si el consumo de carbohidratos fermentables se asocia con la experiencia de caries en jóvenes y adultos, cuando es medido por un sistema de asignación de puntajes a los alimentos según su presunta cariogenicidad. Metodología: 275 sujetos (12 a 67 anos) fueron examinados para determinar su experiencia de caries mediante el índice COPD (dientes cariados, obturados y perdidos) y radiografías. Los sujetos llenaron un diario dietético semanal. Se utilizó un sistema arbitrario para asignar puntajes y determinar el potencial cariogénico de la dieta basado en la consistencia, frecuencia y ocasión de consumo. Resultados: Las mujeres mostraron mayor potencial cariogénico que los hombres (p=0,04). Cuando los sujetos fueron divididos en 4 categorías de COPD, no se detectaron diferencias en su potencial cario-génico en ningún grupo de caries. No se observó correlación entre la experiencia de caries y el potencial cariogénico de la dieta (p>0,05). Conclusiones: La cariogenicidad arbitrariamente asignada a los carbohidratos fermentables de la dieta no parece asociarse con la experiencia de caries en adultos.
Subject(s)
Humans , Dietary Carbohydrates , Adolescent , Adult , Dental Caries , Diet, Cariogenic , Sugars , Fermented Foods , ChileABSTRACT
Background: Body mass index (BMI) is the recommended parameter to assess the nutritional status of subjects aged less than 20 years. However, during puberty the correlation between BMI and fat mass decreases notably. Therefore, the use of BMI for the diagnosis of obesity during puberty may be misleading. Aim: To evaluate the variations of the BMI during puberty according to chronological and biological ages. Material and methods: Descriptive cross sectional study in school age children of elementary and high schools (4,531 males and 5,326 females) representing all socioeconomic strata of 4 regions of Chile. BMI was calculated from weight and height measurements (W/H2) and pubertal development was evaluated according to Tanner stages. The sample selected to evaluate the variations of BMI according to chronological age and pubertal stages consisted in 3,913 females aged 8-14 years and 2,494 males aged 10-16 years. Analyses of variance (F test) and Tukey HSD test were used to compare mean BMI according to chronological and biological ages. Results: The age of onset of puberty (Tanner Stages IB2 and G2) varied greatly, from 8 to 14 years in females and 10 to 16 years in males. Mean BMI in a specific stage of pubertal development did not show significant differences according to age in both sexes. However, there were significant differences (p <0.05) in mean BMI when comparing children of the same chronological age but in different Tanner stages. Per each stage of Tanner development, BMI increased 1.0 or more points among females and 0.6 points among males. Conclusions: During puberty, BMI is associated to biological and not chronological age.