The Study of Cariogenicity of Raw Sugarcane in 12-year-old Children in Punjab, India

Abstract

ABSTRACT There is laboratory evidence that refined carbohydrates are more cariogenic compared with unrefined carbohydrates. It was reported that sugarcane workers in South Africa, who consumed large quantities of raw sugarcane daily, had a low caries experience. However, other epidemiologic studies of this relationship, both in Africa and elsewhere, have given mixed results and to date the question concerning the cariogenicity of raw sugarcane remains equivocal. Objective The purpose of the present study was to investigate further the hypothesis that children who reside in a sugarcane growing region have a lower caries experience than those residing in an otherwise comparable environment outside of the sugarcane growing region. Method A total of 404 Children aged 12 years were selected from government run schools in both sugarcane region which was close to the town of Mehta and non-sugarcane region which was close to attari in Amritsar district in the state of Punjab, India, and were given consent to participate in the survey. Data on the eating habits of the children were obtained by questionnaire and caries experience was determined during a clinical examination. The drinking water in both regions contained fluoride at less than 0.5 ppm. Results The mean DMFT scores for the sugarcane and non-sugarcane groups were 0.41 and 0.70, respectively (p<0.002). In a multivariable logistic regression analysis of risk factors for a caries experience, residence area alone was the sole significant predictor of experiencing one or more DMFT. Children residing in the sugarcane growing region were 49% less likely to have decayed teeth (OR=0.51; 95%CI= 0.33, 0.78). Conclusion The null hypothesis is rejected; the results of this study support the hypothesis that the chewing of raw sugarcane is associated with reduced dental caries experience.