Does denture-wearing status in edentulous South Korean elderly persons affect their nutritional intakes?

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine whether denture-wearing status in edentulous South Korean elders affected their nutritional intakes, using the 2008-2010 data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES).

BACKGROUND

Good nutritional status is a requirement for healthy aging in the elders. Tooth loss is the key to lead to low masticatory ability and alterative food choice, which may increase the risks of systemic disease. Therefore, denture treatment is important to improve general health of edentulous persons.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From KNHANES data, 1168 edentulous older people were selected as the participants of the present study. Nutrient intake data collected via participants' 24-h dietary recalls were used to determine the ratio of nutrient intake to the Recommended Dietary Allowance for Koreans, the percentage of individuals with inadequate nutrient and the effects of denture wearing on the risk of undernourishment.

RESULTS

The results showed that compared to denture wearers, edentulous persons without dentures had lower intakes of potassium, niacin and vitamin C. In addition, the distribution of inadequate nutrient intake among participants without dentures was higher than among participants with dentures; the risk of undernourishment was 1.89 times that of denture wearers. [Correction made on 21 March 2014, after first online publication: "[…] participants with dentures was higher than among participants without dentures" was corrected to "[…] participants without dentures was higher than among participants with dentures"]

CONCLUSION

Denture wearing was seen to have a significant effect on the level of nutrient intake in edentulous elders.