Relationship between skeletal bone mineral density and subjective masticatory difficulty

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Oral Health
• Bone Metabolism

Background:

• Masticatory ability is crucial for elderly quality of life and well-being.
• Subjective masticatory difficulty impacts social and systemic health.
• This study investigates the link between chewing function and bone mineral density (BMD).

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the association between subjective masticatory difficulty and skeletal bone mineral density (BMD).
• To explore potential gender differences in this association.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data (2008-2011).
• Inclusion of 13,092 Koreans aged over 50.
• Assessment of masticatory difficulty via questionnaire; BMD measured by DXA; multivariate logistic regression used.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in BMD (total hip, femoral neck, lumbar spine) and lean body mass were found based on masticatory difficulty in both genders.
• Chewing satisfaction showed stronger associations with hip and femoral neck BMD in females compared to males.
• Tooth count, DMFT, and CPI scores did not significantly differ based on chewing satisfaction.

Conclusions:

• Skeletal BMD, particularly at the femoral neck, is significantly associated with subjective masticatory difficulty in the elderly.
• This association is more pronounced in elder females.
• Maintaining masticatory function may be important for preserving bone health in older adults, especially women.