Gender-Specific Association between Average Volume of Alcohol Consumption, Binge Drinking, and Periodontitis among Korean Adults: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2013~2014

Abstract

We investigated the gender-specific association between average volume of alcohol consumption, binge drinking, and periodontitis using representative nationwide data. In total, we included 3,549 men and 4,810 women, aged 19 years and older, who participated in the sixth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey performed in 2013∼2014. According to the average volume of alcohol consumption, study participants were grouped as follows: mild drinkers (0.1∼2.0 drinks/day in men and 0.1∼1.0 drink/day in women), moderate drinkers (2.1∼4.0 drinks/day in men and 1.1∼2.0 drinks/day in women), and heavy drinkers (＞4.0 drinks/day in men and ＞2.0 drinks/day in women). Additionally, binge drinking was categorized as never (no binge drinking), rarely (＜1 time/month), occasionally (1 time/month), frequently (1 time/week), and always (almost every day/week). Periodontitis was defined as a community periodontal index equal to code 3 or greater. In men, after controlling for covariates, the association between average volume of alcohol consumption and periodontitis showed a J-shaped curve; the risk of periodontitis was significantly higher in moderate drinkers (odds ratio [OR], 1.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01∼1.56) and heavy drinkers (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.04∼1.87) than in mild drinkers. In contrast, no significant association between average volume of alcohol consumption and periodontitis was observed in women. In a fully adjusted analysis, which used 'never binge drinking' as a reference, a significant dose-response relationship between binge drinking and periodontitis was observed only in men: rarely (OR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.16∼2.34), occasionally (OR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.05∼2.16), frequently (OR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.07∼2.33), and always (OR, 2.56; 95% CI, 1.56∼4.22) (p for trend=0.005). In conclusion, unhealthy drinking patterns such as moderate or heavy alcohol consumption and binge drinking were significantly associated with periodontitis in men but not in women.

Differences in problem alcohol drinking by military service type among male professional military personnel in South Korea using Military Health Survey data

“…Hyeong and Lee’s study using the 2013–2014 KNHANES showed that higher alcohol consumption and frequency of binge drinking was linked to higher periodontitis. 36 Kim et al also found that periodontal status was significantly associated with harmful alcohol use. 37 Therefore, dental check-up care needs to be included when nursing officers conduct alcohol-related health interventions for military personnel.…”

Osteoporosis and Alveolar Bone Health in Periodontitis Niche: A Predisposing Factors-Centered Review

“…Mendelian randomization, an approach to make a casual inference, has been applied to determine the role of alcohol consumption in the development of periodontitis and the result supports that alcohol ingestion is a predisposing factor for periodontitis [ 291 ]. In addition, the correlation between alcohol intake and periodontitis was reported to be gender-specific by some studies, which suggests more significant relevance in male than in female populations [ 292 ]. Corroborating with clinical findings, light alcohol intake does not aggravate ligature-induced damage of alveolar bone and even seems to protect against bone loss at unligated sites in rats [ 293 ].…”