[Association between tongue pressure and nutritional status assessed by multiple indicators in community-dwelling...

The tongue function is a key factor associated with the nutritional status. However, in which specific stages of malnutrition the tongue function becomes significantly involved remains unclear. This study examined the association between tongue pressure and indicators of nutritional status among community-dwelling older adults.

A total of 109 participants ≥65 years old were included in the analysis. The maximum tongue pressure was measured, and values below 30 kPa were defined as a decreased tongue pressure. Being at risk of malnutrition was evaluated using the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short-Form (MNA-SF). A low body mass index (BMI; <20) was considered to indicate a trend toward malnutrition, and the appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) adjusted for the BMI (ASM_BMI) was used to assess a low skeletal muscle mass, defined as <0.789 kg/BMI for men and <0.512 kg/BMI for women.

The mean age of participants was 78.1±6.9 years old, and 79.8% were female. The prevalence of being at risk of malnutrition was 16.4% in the normal tongue pressure group and 33.3% in the low tongue pressure group. The prevalence of a low BMI was 13.1% and 25.0%, and that of low ASM_BMI was 11.5% and 35.4% in the normal and low tongue pressure groups, respectively. The adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) were 2.88 (95% CI: 1.06-7.87) for at risk of malnutrition, 3.03 (95% CI: 1.01-9.08) for a low BMI, and 1.93 (95% CI: 0.62-5.99) for a low ASM_BMI.

Decreased tongue pressure was associated with nutritional risk and a low BMI, whereas no significant association was found with a low ASM_BMI.