Objective: The aim was to evaluate the combined effects of a new complete denture fabrication and simple dietary advice (using unique pamphlets) by dentists on nutrient intake in edentulous elderly patients.
Materials and methods: A randomized controlled trial was performed on edentulous elderly patients who were randomly allocated to either an intervention or a control group. The intervention group received a new complete denture and simple dietary advice, whereas the control group received a new complete denture and denture care advice. The outcomes of this trial (nutrient intakes) were calculated using a brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire (BDHQ) and assessed at three time points (pretreatment and 3 and 6 months post-treatment).
Results: At 3 months post-treatment, the intake of several nutrients such as proteins (p = 0.004), magnesium (p < 0.001), and vitamin B1 (p = 0.014) was significantly higher in the intervention group than the control group, whereas at 6 months post-treatment, plant protein (p = 0.028) intake was significantly higher in the intervention group than the control group. On the contrary, animal protein (p = 0.049) and vitamin B12 (p = 0.028) intakes were significantly higher in the control group.
Conclusions: New complete denture fabrication with simple dietary advice might improve nutrient intake in elderly edentulous patients; however, the effect is probably short term.
Clinical significance: New complete denture fabrication along with simple dietary advice by dentists might improve nutrient intake in edentulous elderly patients. Therefore, regular use of these interventions in the dental setting might have long-term effects on nutrient intake in elderly edentulous patients.
Trial registration: UMIN-CTR Clinical Trial, unique trial number: UMIN000017879.
Keywords: Brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire (BDHQ); Complete denture; Dietary advice; Edentulous elderly; Nutrient intake.