Grain-rich diet reduces gum disease risk

Eating lots of whole grains may do more than just lower a person's risk of developing diabetes or heart disease. A diet rich in whole grains also lowers the likelihood of developing periodontitis or gum disease. A diet that is beneficial for general health is also good for oral health.Diabetes and high levels of blood sugar are known to increase a person's risk and severity of periodontitis, while whole grains and fibre have been shown to improve ability to process blood sugar. Yet, whether whole grain consumption is associated with a lower risk of periodontitis had not previously been studied. Researchers from the McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, followed over 34,000 men, gathering information about the men's diet every four years via a food-frequency questionnaire. None of the study participants, aged 40-75 years at the start of the study, had a history of periodontitis, heart attack, high cholesterol or diabetes. Over a 14-year period, 1,897 men were diagnosed with periodontitis, or inflammation of the gums that also involves bone.

Those who reported eating the most brown rice, dark breads, popcorn and other whole grains (about three servings per day) were 23 percent less likely to develop periodontitis than those who reported eating less than one daily serving of whole grains. Also, men who reported eating more whole grains were older, more physically active, less likely to smoke, and of lower weight for their height than those who reported the lowest whole grain consumption. They also reported eating more fruits, vegetables and nuts than their counterparts. After taking all these factors into consideration, however, higher consumption of whole grains was still associated with a lower risk of periodontitis. The likely mechanism for this observation is that whole grain intake improves glucose metabolism, resulting in lower levels of blood glucose. Lower blood glucose levels are reported to reduce the risk of periodontitis in diabetics. Low blood glucose levels - resulting from consuming whole grains - may reduce the risk of periodontitis in non-diabetics as well. Therefore, increasing whole grain in the diet without increasing the total energy intake can reduce periodontitis risk.

COMMENT