Abstract

Nutritional supplements have been recommended to cope with malnutrition in elderly persons. In Chile, the Supplementary Nutrition Program for the Elderly (PACAM, for its Spanish acronym) consists in a monthly distribution of a low-fat-milk-based drink that contains 8% sucrose. The aim of this study was to determine whether older persons consuming the milk-based drink have a higher caries experience when compared to those not receiving the supplement. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Maule Region in Chile. The representative sample comprised two groups: a) PACAM consumers (CS) (n=60) and b) Non-consumers (NCS) (n=60). Participants received intraoral examination and coronal (DMFT/DMFS) and root caries (RCI index) experience were recorded. Additionally, questionnaires regarding acceptability and consumption habits of PACAM and a 24-hour diet recall were applied. The influence of predictors was calculated using Binary Logistic Regression for a dichotomized DMFS and Poisson Regression for root caries lesions. A p-value<0.05 was considered significant. No differences were detected in food consumption patterns between study groups (p>0.05). CS participants had increased dairy product consumption. Higher DMFS mean value was observed in the CS (85.35 +/- 39.0) compared with NCS (77.28 +/- 28.9), (p=0.043). The multivariate analysis showed non-consumers of the milk-based product (beta= -0.41, p= 0.02), are less likely to have root surfaces affected by caries. Additionally, CS show higher RCI, compared to non-consumers (beta=-0.17, p=0.02). Daily consumption of a PACAM's milk-based drink supplement seems to increase coronal and root caries risk. Based on these results, composition modification of milk-based drinks with added sucrose, appears mandatory