title: Occlusal function associated with body composition in premenopausal Japanese women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goal of the present study was to investigate the relationship between occlusal function and body composition in 108 premenopausal healthy Japanese women aged 20-45 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pressure-sensitive sheets were used to measure occlusal function. Whole fat mass and lean mass, fat-free mass, and whole-bone mineral content were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  After being adjusted for age and the square of height, the whole lean mass and grip strength of the large occlusal contact-area group were found to be significantly higher than those of the small occlusal area groups (p<0.05, respectively). In the 1-year follow-up study, changes in weight in the small-occlusal contact-area group and the low-occlusal force group were significantly larger than other occlusal-contact area or occlusal-force groups. The mean occlusal-contact area and occlusal force were both significantly smaller in subjects with partial dentures than in those without (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Large occlusal contact-area, high occlusal force, and no dentures may be associated with some good health conditions in premenopausal Japanese women.
authors: Institute of Community Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tennou-dai 1-1-1, 605-8575, Tsukuba-city, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Hara
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Yanagi
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Amagai
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Tomura