title: Dentition, nutritional status and adequacy of dietary intake among older residents in assisted living facilities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We examined the relationships between dentition, nutritional status and dietary intakes of energy, protein and micronutrients among older people in assisted living facilities in Helsinki.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Poor dentition is associated with malnutrition. Less is known about how dentition is associated with detailed nutrient intakes in institutionalised older people.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study assessed 343 participants (mean age 83 years). Dentition was assessed by trained ward nurses and divided into edentulous participants without dentures (group 1), edentulous participants with removable dentures (group 2) and those with any natural teeth (group 3). Nutritional status was assessed by Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). The energy, protein and nutrient intakes were calculated from detailed 1-day food diaries and compared with the recommendations of the Finnish National Nutrition Council as a measure of dietary adequacy. Assessment included also participants' cognitive and functional status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the participants, 8.2, 39.1 and 52.8% were in groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Altogether 22% were malnourished according to MNA. Group 1 had the poorest nutritional status. A large proportion of participants consumed less than the recommended amounts of energy, protein or micronutrients. Half of the participants consumed <60 g/day of protein. The intake of protein was significantly lower in group 1 than in other two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Malnutrition and inadequate protein intake were very common and associated with dentition among older people with multiple disabilities in assisted living facilities. Assessment of dental status should be part of good nutritional care in long-term care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Services and Health Care, Oral Health Care, Helsinki, Finland.|Unit of Primary Health Care, Helsinki University Central Hospital and University of Helsinki, Department of General Practice, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Riitta K T
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Saarela
authors.affiliation: Unit of Primary Health Care, Helsinki University Central Hospital and University of Helsinki, Department of General Practice, Helsinki, Finland.|Helsinki Metropolia, University of Applied Sciences, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Eeva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lindroos
authors.affiliation: Unit of Primary Health Care, Helsinki University Central Hospital and University of Helsinki, Department of General Practice, Helsinki, Finland.|Department of Social Services and Health Care, Developmental and Operational Support, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Soini
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatognathic Physiology and Prosthetic Dentistry Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Kaija
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hiltunen
authors.affiliation: Unit of Primary Health Care, Helsinki University Central Hospital and University of Helsinki, Department of General Practice, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Seija
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Muurinen
authors.affiliation: Unit of Primary Health Care, Helsinki University Central Hospital and University of Helsinki, Department of General Practice, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Merja H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Suominen
authors.affiliation: Unit of Primary Health Care, Helsinki University Central Hospital and University of Helsinki, Department of General Practice, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Kaisu H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Pitkälä
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D040561:Assisted Living Facilities; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003817:Dentition; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009752:Nutritional Status
keywords: aged; assisted living facilities; dentition status; energy intake; nutrient intake; nutrition; protein intake