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Awad MA, Morais JA et al. J Dent Res 2012; 91: 39–46

An elevated level of homocysteine (tHcy) can be associated with deficiencies in vitamins and is a risk factor for cardiovascular and other diseases. In this study, tHcy and secondary nutritional outcome measures were recorded in 255 (>65 years old) edentulous subjects at baseline, 6 and 12 months after they had been restored with either 1) an IOD and a conventional upper prosthesis, or 2) a conventional lower and an upper prosthesis. Those subjects restored with an IOD had fewer difficulties with masticatory function. Yet there was no change in tHcy and surprisingly, plasma folate and vitamin B12 actually declined over the study. The authors suggest that those restored with mandibular implant overdentures switched from drinking fortified beverages to eating healthy foods yet with lower levels of vitamins.