Relationship Between Blood Test Results and Oral Function Tests in Individuals Undergoing Regular Physical...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Oral Health
• Metabolic Health

Background:

• Growing interest in the link between oral function and lifestyle-related diseases.
• Oral health is increasingly recognized as a factor influencing overall health and disease progression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between oral function test results and blood test markers for lipid abnormalities, glucose metabolism, and kidney function.
• To explore how deviations in metabolic and kidney health indicators relate to specific oral function parameters.

Main Methods:

• 118 individuals aged ≥50 years underwent health check-ups in 2021 and 2023.
• Subjects were categorized based on fasting blood glucose (GLU), HbA1c, HDL, LDL, BUN, and eGFR values falling outside or within reference ranges.
• Seven oral function tests were compared between these groups using the Mann-Whitney U test (p < 0.05 significance).

Main Results:

• Abnormal GLU and HbA1c levels correlated with significantly lower remaining teeth (RTN) and oral diadochokinesis (OD) values.
• Deviations in HDL and LDL were associated with a higher tongue coat index (TCI) and lower OD.
• Significant differences in TCI and OD were observed between groups based on BUN and eGFR reference range status.

Conclusions:

• Individuals with blood test values outside reference ranges demonstrated a decline in oral function.
• A decline in oral function may elevate the risk of developing lifestyle-related diseases.
• Impaired oral function could potentially accelerate the progression of frailty.