Energy intake, dental caries and periodontal disease in 11-year-old black children in two regions of Southern Africa: KwaZulu and Namibia

Abstract The study examined energy intake in relation to dental caries and periodontal disease in 11-yr-old rural and urban black children in low fluoride areas of KwaZulu and Namibia (0.15 ppm F) and one higher fluoride area of Namibia (1.56 ppm F). Twenty-four hour dietary recalls were conducted by trained interviewers and daily energy intake estimated using the MRC dietary analysis programme. DMFS was recorded according to WHO criteria; periodontal disease was measured using CPITN and SAS was used for statistical analysis. The prevalence of dental caries and periodontal disease (using CPITN), were compared within three energy groupings; ≤850 kcal/day; > 850, < 1400 kcal/day and ≥1400 kcal/day. The rural low fluoride Namibian children had the lowest mean energy intake (616 kcal/day), which also was the grouping with highest healthy periodontal prevalence (65%). The urban groups had higher energy intakes than the rural communities. Statistically significant effects on caries prevalence were seen for country and fluoride grouping; for periodontal disease, significant effects were noted for country, fluoride group and environment. Energy intake had no statistically significant effect, so this is not a risk marker for the disease.