1. Introduction
SAID, POOR NUTRITION, DELAYED WOUND HEALING, PROTEIN DEFICIENCY
Nutrition and oral health are closely related, especially in older adults in whom poor nutrition may lead to oral microbial perturbations, exacerbating poor oral health. In a 6-month randomized controlled trial, we evaluated the effects on oral microbiota and on oral health of dietary advice aimed at increasing protein intake to ≥1.2 g/kg adjusted body weight/day (g/kg aBW/d) in community-dwelling older adults with low habitual protein intake (<1.0 g/kg aBW/d). Food intake was measured via 24 h dietary recalls, oral health was measured via questionnaires, and oral microbial composition was assessed via the 16S rRNA sequencing of tongue swabs. Mean baseline protein intake was 0.8 g/kg aBW/day in both groups. In the high protein group (It is well-established that nutrition and oral health are closely related [Protein deficiency is said to compromise the integrity of dentition and its supporting structures. It is also thought to result in delayed wound healing and poor resistance to oral pathogens [Currently, the European Food Safety Authority recommends 0.83 g protein intake per kg body weight per day, irrespective of age [