Study links low lycopene intake to higher risk of severe gum disease in older adults

A new study has found that insufficient dietary lycopene intake is associated with a significantly higher risk of severe periodontitis among U.S. adults ages 65 to 79, with differences in risk patterns observed across race and sex. The research was published in The Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging.

The research team included lead author Katherine Kwong of the Department of Human Development at Connecticut College in New London, Connecticut, along with collaborators from Tulane University, the University of California San Diego, Yunnan University, Southern Illinois University and Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center.

The study analyzed data from 1,227 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2009–2014). Nearly half (48.7%) of older adults in the study had some level of periodontitis, and 77.9% consumed insufficient dietary lycopene-a carotenoid commonly found in tomatoes and other red fruits.

After adjusting for age, sex, race, smoking status and education, the study found that older adults with sufficient lycopene intake had about one-third the odds of severe periodontitis compared with those with insufficient intake.

The study also found disparities in disease risk. Severe periodontitis was more common among men and non-Hispanic Black adults.

Key findings include:

• Adequate lycopene intake was associated with a reduced likelihood of severe periodontitis (odds ratio 0.33; 95% CI 0.17–0.65).

• Non-Hispanic Black adults had higher odds of severe periodontitis than non-Hispanic White adults (odds ratio 2.82; 95% CI 1.46–5.45).

• Women were less likely than men to experience severe periodontitis (odds ratio 0.27; 95% CI 0.14–0.55).

• Among non-Hispanic White adults, both female sex and sufficient lycopene intake were associated with lower risk.

• Among non-Hispanic Black adults, the same lycopene association was not observed, suggesting differences in risk patterns.

The authors write that the findings suggest dietary lycopene may be an important modifiable factor for preventing severe gum disease among older adults. However, because the study was cross-sectional, causality cannot be determined.

The study also highlights racial and sex disparities in periodontal disease, with non-Hispanic Black adults and men experiencing a higher prevalence of severe disease. The authors recommend that future prevention strategies consider race- and sex-specific dietary interventions, and call for longitudinal or randomized controlled trials to examine whether increasing lycopene intake reduces disease risk or progression.

Reference:

Katherine Kwong, You Lu, ZhuoHuan Li, Susu Luo, Zhaoyu Huang, Zhong Chen, Na Zhao, Tung-Sung Tseng, Lycopene, Race and Periodontitis: Disparities in Older Adults, The Journal of nutrition, health and aging, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnha.2025.100759.