Abstract
Sarcopenia, which is observed in about half of elderly people aged over 80 years, is an age-related change and expected to appear in the oral and maxillofacial area. As a preliminary study, we investigated the relationships between nutritional condition and intraoral condition/oral function in independent elderly people who were participating in our program for the prevention of sarcopenia. Sixty-two independent elderly people were the subjects of this study (27 men and 35 women, aged 69〜92).We conducted a structured interview survey on intraoral condition and oral function by distributing a questionnaire. The oral examination and assessment of oral function were performed by one dentist. Furthermore, we investigated the relationships of serum albumin concentration (Alb) to the answers concerning oral condition, the outcomes of oral examination, and the findings of the oral function. The result of the average of Alb, 4.3±0.3 g/dl, was satisfactory. Oral conditions and functions of these subjects were favorable in general. Two of the questions on the oral function, self-rated oral health, and wearing lower denture or not, were related to Alb. The number of present teeth except for remaining roots, occlusal contacts of teeth and oral diadochokinesis (ODK) of the syllable /ka/ were weakly related to Alb, but denture-satisfaction ratings, oral hygiene, wearing upper denture or not, labial closure strength, repetitive saliva swallowing test (RSST), oral diadochokinesis (ODK) of the syllables /pa/ and /ta/, mucosal moisture measurement and saliva wet test were not related. This study suggests that the number of present teeth, occlusal contacts, wearing denture or not, and self-assessment of oral health and function were related to the satisfactory nutritional condition of independent elderly people.
