The effect of food supplements on completely edentulous women rehabilitated with complete dentures: A randomized controlled trial.

Aim: Neglected oral health is a major issue, especially in women of developing countries, leading to early loss of teeth which may further lead to malnutrition, degradation of overall health, and increased chances of osteoporosis. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the effect of food supplement on masticatory performance, nutritional status, electromyography (EMG) (masseter and temporalis), and bone mineral density (BMD) among women rehabilitated with complete denture.

Settings and design: Hospital based randomized controlled trial.

Materials and methods: A randomized controlled trial with 106 women of 45-65 years rehabilitated with complete denture (56 received food supplement and 50 did not receive food supplement) and 52 healthy control was conducted. The outcomes were assessed at baseline and 3 and 6 months of follow up (after complete denture fabrication). Outcomes were measured via masticatory performance, nutritional status (hemoglobin, serum calcium, albumin, and Vitamin D level), EMG of masseter and temporalis muscles, and BMD.

Statistical analysis used: Friedman's analysis of variance test was used as a nonparametric test, and the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 21.0 at a significance level of 0.05 was used for statistical analysis.

Results: A statistically significant change was observed during follow up for the group with food supplement for BMD, EMG, and masticatory performance. When biochemical parameters were assessed during follow up, no statistically significant change was observed for both groups (with and without food supplement), except for serum calcium level in group which received food supplement.

Conclusion: It was found that the magnitude of effect was remarkably meager in food supplement group which could be perhaps due to less time given for follow up period. Longer duration of trials would yield better results.