title: Lack of relationship between masticatory performance and nutritional status in adults with natural dentition.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study assessed the relation among several aspects of the masticatory function and the nutritional status in adults with natural dentition.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred adults with natural dentition participated in this cross-sectional study. They performed one free-style masticatory test consisting of five trials of 20 silicon-chewing cycles. The preferred chewing side was determined by calculating the asymmetry index. Masticatory performance was determined by sieving the silicon particles, and the cycle duration was also recorded. Weight, body water percentage, body fat mass, muscle mass and osseous mass were measured using a portable digital weighing machine. Body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio, skinfold thickness and the upper-arm composition were determined. The relation between masticatory function and a nutritional variable were tested using Pearson or Spearman rank correlation coefficients or using analysis of variance or the Kruskal-Wallis H-test and the Mann-Whitney U test, as appropriate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Whereas body fat percentages for women were significantly higher than for men, the body mass index was higher in men than in women. Participants who were underweight chewed more asymmetrically and more slowly than normal weight or obese participants. A negative correlation was observed between body fat percentage and masticatory laterality. No relation between masticatory performance and any nutritional status indicator was detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Being underweight and having a low body fat percentage seem to be related to a masticatory lateral asymmetry and to a large cycle duration in young adults with natural dentition. Masticatory performance does not seem to be related to nutritional status.
authors: Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Autonomous University of Nayarit, Mexico.
authors: Elan Ignacio
authors: EI
authors: Flores-Orozco
authors: Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Autonomous University of Nayarit, Mexico.
authors: Gaby Esthela
authors: GE
authors: Tiznado-Orozco
authors: Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Autonomous University of Nayarit, Mexico.
authors: Olga Dionicia
authors: OD
authors: Osuna-González
authors: Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Autonomous University of Nayarit, Mexico.
authors: Claudia Lucero
authors: CL
authors: Amaro-Navarrete
authors: Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Barcelona, Spain; Oral Health and Masticatory System Group (Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute) IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Bernat
authors: B
authors: Rovira-Lastra
authors: Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Barcelona, Spain; Oral Health and Masticatory System Group (Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute) IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: jmartinezgomis@gmail.com.
authors: Jordi
authors: J
authors: Martinez-Gomis
mesh_terms: D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012737:Sex Factors; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Anthropometric measurement; Chewing rate; Masticatory performance; Obesity; Preferred chewing side