Abstract
To determine suitable food for the elderly, it is much important to know the salivary flow rate during chewing their daily food. We compared the water contents of the food bolus just before swallowing in the young (20s years, n=33) and in the non-institutionalized elderly (70+ years, n=30). Nine daily foods were selected: dried apricot, white bread, cooked burdock, cooked chicken, mushi-kamaboko, boiled mushroom, boiled spinach, arare and baked yellowtail. The bolus of each food was collected just before swallowing. The water contents of the bolus were analyzed, and the salivary flow rates were calculated.
With the comparatively salty foods, there was no significant difference in the water contents of the bolus between the young and the elderly, but the salivary flow rate of the elderly was signficantly less than the young. It was considered that a longer period of chewing before swallowing compensated for the reduction of saliva.
The relation between the salivary flow rate and the use of dentures was not clear. However, a clear relation between the symptom of dry mouth and the salivary flow rate was evident. The subjects who took an above average amount of drugs (men 2.5, women 2.6) were likely to have a lower salivary flow rate. The influence of drugs on the salivary flow rate was suggested. We conclude that forthe elderly who take a lot of drugs, attention should be given to suitable food, in addition to medical treatment.
