Correlation between dental and nutritional status in community-dwelling elderly Japanese

Aim: The purpose of this study was to clarify the correlation between dental and nutritional status among community-dwelling elderly Japanese people. Methods: The subjects were 182 elderly individuals, aged 65-85 years, who voluntarily participated in a health seminar at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine. These subjects were divided into two groups according to the occlusion. The subjects in the retained contact group were those who had retained molar occlusion with natural teeth. The lost contact group were those who retained molar occlusion with removable partial dentures. Anthropometric variables such as body mass index (BMI) were collected and dietary intake was assessed using a brief self-administered diet history questionnaire (BDHQ). Results: No statistical difference in BMI or intake of macronutrients was found between these two occlusal groups. The lost contact group reported significantly lower consumption of vegetables and higher consumption of confectionaries (foods rich in sugar) than did the retained contact group (P < 0.05), and therefore had significantly lower intake of vitamin C and dietary fiber (P < 0.05). Conclusion: It can be concluded that natural tooth contact loss in the posterior region affect the intake of vitamins and dietary fiber. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2011; 11: 315-319.