Does Masticatory Ability Contribute to Nutritional Status in Older Individuals?

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Nutrition Science
• Oral Health

Background:

• Mastication is vital for eating, impacting nutrition and quality of life, especially in older adults.
• Compromised chewing ability in the elderly is a significant concern, but its assessment relative to nutritional status is unclear.
• Oral health factors influence masticatory function and overall well-being in aging populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between oral factors and masticatory ability in older individuals.
• To examine how different assessments of masticatory function correlate with nutritional status indicators.
• To determine the interplay between objective oral functions and subjective perceptions of chewing ability.

Main Methods:

• 100 older adults participated, with data collected on Body Mass Index (BMI), age, sex, and occlusal support.
• Three masticatory ability tests were performed: masticatory efficiency, masticatory score, and satisfaction with mastication.
• Oral functions including tongue pressure, cheek pressure, and occlusal force were measured.

Main Results:

• Objective masticatory efficiency correlated weakly with the masticatory score but not satisfaction.
• Objective oral factors strongly predicted objective masticatory efficiency, unlike subjective assessments.
• Body Mass Index (BMI) showed significant association with subjective masticatory ability but not objective efficiency.

Conclusions:

• Objective and subjective assessments of masticatory ability are both essential for older adults.
• Integrating oral function assessments with nutritional strategies can help maintain and improve nutritional status in the elderly.
• A comprehensive approach considering both objective and subjective chewing performance is needed for geriatric nutritional care.