Lower Protein Intake Mediates Association Between Lower Occlusal Force and Slower Walking Speed: From the Septuagenarians, Octogenarians, Nonagenarians Investigation with Centenarians Study.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association between lower extremity motor function and occlusion in older adults and to examine the possibility of dietary intake of protein mediating the association.


METHODS
Cross-sectional, population-based study.


METHODS
Urban and rural area in Japan.


METHODS
Community-dwelling septuagenarians (N = 655) and octogenarians (N = 629).


METHODS
Information was collected on occlusal force, protein intake, grip strength, walking speed, sociodemographic characteristics, and medical history. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the association between walking speed, occlusal force, and protein intake, and structural equation modeling analysis and mediation analysis were performed to investigate the validity of the hypothesized model and identify the indirect effect of protein intake in occlusal force and walking speed.


RESULTS
The proportion of participants whose walking speed was 0.8 m/s or slower (slow walking speed) was 27.7%. Logistic regression analyses showed that slower walking speed was associated with occlusal force (odds ratio = 1.57, P = .001) after adjusting for medical history, body mass index, grip strength, and protein intake. The fit of the hypothesized model that walking speed was associated with occlusal force through protein intake was good, and the indirect effect was significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Slower walking speed was associated with lower occlusal force. Lower protein intake mediated the association between walking speed and occlusal force. Maintaining occlusal force might prevent insufficient nutrition intake and further deterioration of motor function in older people.
Department of Prosthodontics, Gerodontology and Oral Rehabilitation, Graduate School of Dentistry, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.
Tadashi
T
Okada
Department of Prosthodontics, Gerodontology and Oral Rehabilitation, Graduate School of Dentistry, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.
Kazunori
K
Ikebe
Department of Prosthodontics, Gerodontology and Oral Rehabilitation, Graduate School of Dentistry, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.
Ryosuke
R
Kagawa
Department of Prosthodontics, Gerodontology and Oral Rehabilitation, Graduate School of Dentistry, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.
Chisato
C
Inomata
Department of Prosthodontics, Gerodontology and Oral Rehabilitation, Graduate School of Dentistry, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.
Hajime
H
Takeshita
Department of Clinical Thanatology and Geriatric Behavioral Science, Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.
Yasuyuki
Y
Gondo
Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital and Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan.
Yoshiko
Y
Ishioka
Department of Health Promotion, National Institute of Public Health, Saitama, Japan.
Hitomi
H
Okubo
School of Allied Health Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.|Department of Geriatric Medicine and Nephrology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.
Kei
K
Kamide
Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital and Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan.
Yukie
Y
Masui
Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital and Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan.
Ryutaro
R
Takahashi
School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan.
Yasumichi
Y
Arai
Sir John Walsh Institute, Department of Oral Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
William Murray
WM
Thomson
Department of Prosthodontics, Gerodontology and Oral Rehabilitation, Graduate School of Dentistry, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.
Yoshinobu
Y
Maeda
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000886:Anthropometry; D001732:Bite Force; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*
D004044:Dietary Proteins
elderly people; occlusal force; protein intake; walking speed