A national analysis of adults ages 65 to 79 found that adequate dietary lycopene intake was associated with substantially lower odds of severe periodontitis, while also documenting significant racial and sex disparities in disease prevalence.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
A new study published in The Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging has found that older adults with insufficient dietary intake of lycopene were significantly more likely to suffer from severe periodontitis, a serious form of gum disease linked to chronic inflammation and tooth loss.
The research analyzed data from 1,227 adults ages 65 to 79 who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2009 and 2014. According to the findings, 48.7% of participants had some degree of periodontitis, while 77.9% failed to consume adequate levels of lycopene, an antioxidant found primarily in tomatoes and other red fruits.
After adjusting for age, sex, race, smoking status and education, researchers reported that individuals with sufficient lycopene intake had approximately one-third the odds of severe periodontitis compared with those whose intake was inadequate, representing a 66% reduction in risk. The authors noted that lycopene’s anti-inflammatory properties may help protect periodontal tissue, aligning with earlier research linking nutrient deficiencies to oral disease.
The study also identified marked disparities in periodontal health. Non-Hispanic Black adults were nearly three times more likely to experience severe periodontitis than non-Hispanic white adults, and men were significantly more affected than women. While higher lycopene intake was associated with reduced risk among non-Hispanic white participants, the same association was not observed among Black participants, suggesting that additional biological, environmental or socioeconomic factors may influence disease progression.
Beyond oral health, lycopene has been widely studied for its potential role in reducing prostate cancer risk. Prior observational research has reported that diets rich in tomato-based foods are associated with lower rates of prostate cancer, including aggressive forms of the disease, though other large population studies have found no significant association. Researchers note that such inconsistencies reflect the complexity of nutritional science and the influence of genetics, lifestyle and environmental exposures.
The authors of the current study emphasized that their findings are observational and do not establish causation. They called for longitudinal studies and randomized controlled trials to determine whether increasing lycopene intake can directly reduce the incidence or severity of periodontitis. They also highlighted the need for dietary strategies that account for racial and sex-based differences in health outcomes.
The study contributes to a growing body of evidence examining how diet and nutrient intake relate to chronic inflammatory conditions, including those affecting oral health, in aging populations.
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Source: Natural News
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