2019 Volume 1 Issue 4 Pages 250-256
Objectives: The objectives were twofold. In patients who received intervention from a nutrition support team (NST), we investigated (1) the association of tongue pressure and number of residual teeth with serum albumin values (Alb) and body mass index (BMI) and (2) evaluated the effect of tongue pressure and number of residual teeth on eating rate and meal form.
Subjects and Methods: Subjects were 27 inpatients who worked with the NST between February 2018 and January 2019. We analyzed correlations of tongue pressure and number of residual teeth with Alb, BMI, age, and eating rate after NST support was introduced. Next, we compared Alb, BMI, age, number of residual teeth, and eating rate between the low tongue pressure group (<20 kPa) and the high tongue pressure group (≥20 kPa). In addition, we compared Alb, BMI, age, tongue pressure, number of residual teeth, and eating rate between the normal diet group and the modified diet group.
Results: Tongue pressure was positively correlated with eating rate and negatively correlated with age. Number of residual teeth was correlated with BMI. Tongue pressure and number of residual teeth were significantly decreased in the modified diet group compared with the normal diet group.
Conclusions: Tongue pressure had some influence on meal form and eating rate, while number of residual teeth affected meal form and BMI.
