Effect of dentures and dietary advice on protein intake in older Thai adults with missing posterior occluding teeth

Abstract

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of dentures with dietary advice and dentures alone on protein intake in older Thai adults. Background: Dentures combined with nutritional advice may improve protein intake in older adults with posterior tooth loss. However, evidence is limited, especially in developing countries. Methods: A randomised-control trial including 69 older adults with less than four pairs of posterior occluding teeth was conducted for 3 months. The experimental group received dentures and dietary advice based on the Health Belief Model (HBM); the control group received dentures alone. Three-day dietary records were collected and protein intake was assessed using INMUCAL-NUTRIENTS V.4.0 software at baseline, 1 month, and 3 months after the intervention. Data were analysed using a t-test, Mann–Whitney U test, chi-square test, and repeated-measure ANOVA. Results: Both groups reported significantly increased protein intake (control group = 0.4, 0.5, 0.6 g kg BW−1 d−1, intervention = 0.4, 0.6, 0.7 g kg BW−1 d−1, at baseline, 1 month and 3 months, respectively). However, participants in the experimental group had significantly higher total protein (36.3 vs. 39.8 g/d, P =.032) and animal protein intake (18.9 vs. 23.2 g/day, P =.020) than those in the control group at 3 months after the intervention; plant protein intake was similar (10.9 vs. 11.5 g/day, P =.923). In addition, the HBM scores of the experimental group were higher than those of the control group after the intervention (P