title: Nutrient intake and gastrointestinal disorders related to masticatory performance in the edentulous elderly.
abstract: The effects of chewing efficiency on nutrient intake and the prevalence of gastrointestinal disorders were determined in edentulous elderly subjects. Three hundred sixty-seven noninstitutionalized individuals aged 60 years and over were interviewed. Denture masticatory performance and the collection of dietary information were assessed with the "Swallowing Threshold Test Index" and a food-frequency questionnaire. Approximately half (47%) of the participants exhibited a low masticatory performance classification. Thirty-nine percent used the same prosthesis for more than 10 years and 28% were taking some medication for gastrointestinal disorders. Lower intakes of fruits and vegetables for both sexes and of vitamin A by women were observed in subjects with poor masticatory performance. Furthermore, subjects with poor masticatory performance took significantly more drugs (37%) than those with superior performance (20%). A reduced consumption of high-fiber foods could therefore induce the development of gastrointestinal disorders in edentulous elderly subjects with a deficient masticatory performance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Montreal, Faculty of Medicine, Que., Canada.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Brodeur
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Laurin
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vallee
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lachapelle
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003824:Denture, Complete / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000172:deficiency; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication; D008875:Middle Aged; D009066:Mouth, Edentulous / Q000150:complications; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014675:Vegetables; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000209:etiology