Association between oral health and sarcopenia: A literature review

Sarcopenia has recently been attracting attention as an early sign of the need for nursing care in older adults. Some studies have reported that oral health is related to sarcopenia and its diagnostic factors (hand grip strength, walking speed, and skeletal muscle mass). However, the relationship between oral health and sarcopenia remains poorly investigated and no review to date has compiled the available research on this relationship. The aim of this review was to summarize the current evidence describing the association between oral health and sarcopenia.

The internet database PubMed was searched using various combinations of related and synonymous keywords for "oral" or "dental" or "oral health" or "oral function" and "sarcopenia" or "walking speed" or "hand grip strength" or "skeletal muscle mass." A total of 27 studies found to be eligible were critically evaluated and their key findings were summarized.

Most of the studies were cross-sectional and conducted in Japan. A wide range of oral factors, including number of teeth, occlusal support, periodontal state, occlusal force, mastication, tongue pressure, and swallowing, were covered. The overall findings were that oral health indices could be significantly associated with sarcopenia and its diagnostic factors.

Relationships may exist between aspects of oral health and sarcopenia or its diagnostic factors. However, reports showing associations between oral health and sarcopenia are scarce, and definitive conclusions could not be drawn. Further longitudinal studies are necessary to confirm these relationships.