Variation in nutrient intake with dental status, age and odour perception.
OBJECTIVE
Since the proportion of elderly people with an insufficient intake of nutrients is high and many of the elderly have poor odour perception or poor dental state, in this study, the relation between age, odour perception, dental state and nutrient intake is explored.


METHODS
Single centre cross sectional study.


METHODS
Independently living elderly were tested at their homes in 4 locations in Belgium, ranging in ages 60-90 y.


METHODS
200 elderly participated in a 7 d food record study, resulting in 119 complete records.


METHODS
Food quantities were converted to nutrient intake levels. For all people, odour detection threshold was determined of isoamylacetate and dental status was noted. Path analysis was used and the separate effects of age, dental state, odour perception and gender were tested on macronutrient intake and micronutrient intake respectively.


METHODS
For all nutrients, no significant correlation was observed between nutrient intake and odour perception, except for energy, water, Fe and niacin (P < 0.05). A significant separate effect of odour perception was observed for water intake (CR = 2.09). Significant separate effects of dental state were observed for animal protein (CR = 2.29), niacine (CR = 2.04) and mono-unsaturated fats (CR = 2.32).


CONCLUSIONS
Although odour perception and dental state can not fully explain variability in nutrient intake, our results show that people with poor odour perception have lower nutrient intake levels than people with good odour perception. Dental state may not be a direct cause of poor nutrition but a contribution factor in those elderly who have other risk factors.
Griep
M I
MI
Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical, Analysis, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Belgium.
Verleye
G
G
Franck
A H
AH
Collys
K
K
Mets
T F
TF
Massart
D L
DL
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D001530:Belgium; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003778:Dentures; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D009812:Odorants; D009909:Oral Health; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology*