Intake of sweet foods and counts of cariogenic microorganisms in relation to body mass index and psychometric variables in women.

OBJECTIVE: As a part of the SPAWN (Stockholm Pregnancy and Women's Nutrition) study, the intake of sweet foods (habitual and pre-menstrual intakes) and the number of cariogenic microorganisms in saliva was analysed in relation to body mass index (BMI) and psychometric variables.
DESIGN: A cross-sectional study.
SUBJECTS: Three hundred and sixty-two women with a median BMI of 24.2 kg/m(2) (range 17.5-47.8) and 45 y of age (range 34-64).
METHODS: A questionnaire of sweet food intake, salivary counts of mutans streptococci and lactobacilli and a self-rating scale on psychometric variables (CPRS-S-A).
RESULTS: The number of mutans streptococci correlated with BMI (P<0.05), indirectly indicating a higher intake of sweet foods in obese women. The reported energy intake of sweet foods (more specifically the intake of chocolate), correlated with CPRS scores (P<0.01), indicating that women with more severe psychiatric symptomatology have higher intakes of sweet foods.
CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that women with higher CPRS score have higher energy intakes of sweet foods, indicating a possible link between mood regulation and the intake of sweet food. SPONSORSHIP: Karolinska Institute Research Funds.