Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
Institute of Nutrition and Health, School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
BMC Public Health. 2024 May 31;24(1):1465. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-18906-y.
Malnutrition is related to impaired oral health and function that causes poor dietary intake, declining the general health of older adults. The role of dietary intake in the association between oral function and nutritional status of Chinese older adults (aged 75 and above) was examined in this cross-sectional study.
Through the randomized cluster sampling method, 267 older adults living in rural areas of Qingdao, Shandong (aged 81.4 ± 4.3, 75-94 years) were chosen as the primary research participants. A Mini Nutritional Assessment - Short Form was used to determine nutritional status, and Food Frequency Questionnaire and 24-hour Food Intake Recall were used to assess dietary intake. The oral function was evaluated by analyzing the teeth, oral problems, bite force, tongue pressure, lip sealing pressure, chewing function questionnaire, whole saliva flow rate, 10-Item Eating Assessment Tool, and water swallow test.
Based on the MNA-SF score, it was divided into a well-nourished group and a malnutrition group, with the malnutrition group comprising 40.6% of participants. The participants in the malnutrition group showed a higher rate of xerostomia, lower bite force, tongue pressure, and lip sealing pressure, and higher Chewing Function Questionnaire and 10-Item Eating Assessment Tool scores. Furthermore, their plant fat, iron, cereals and potatoes, vegetables, fruits, and seafood intake were relatively low. The regression model indicated that exercise frequency, stroke, chewing and swallowing function, intake of vegetables and fruits were risk factors for nutritional status of older adults.
Malnutrition was relatively common among the Chinese older adults aged 75 and above, and it was significantly correlated with exercise frequency, stroke, chewing and swallowing function, and intake of vegetables and fruits. Therefore, nutrition management should be carried out under the understanding and guidance of the oral function and dietary intake of the older adults.
营养不良与口腔健康和功能受损有关，这会导致老年人饮食摄入减少，整体健康状况下降。本横断面研究旨在探讨中国老年人（75 岁及以上）的饮食摄入在口腔功能与营养状况之间的关系。
通过随机整群抽样方法，选择 267 名居住在山东青岛农村地区的老年人（81.4±4.3 岁，75-94 岁）作为主要研究对象。采用微型营养评估-短表评估营养状况，采用食物频率问卷和 24 小时食物摄入回忆评估饮食摄入。口腔功能通过分析牙齿、口腔问题、咬合力、舌压、唇压、咀嚼功能问卷、全唾液流量、10 项饮食评估工具和水吞咽试验进行评估。
根据 MNA-SF 评分，将参与者分为营养良好组和营养不良组，营养不良组占 40.6%。营养不良组的口干症发生率较高，咬合力、舌压和唇压较低，咀嚼功能问卷和 10 项饮食评估工具得分较高。此外，他们的植物脂肪、铁、谷物和土豆、蔬菜、水果和海鲜摄入量相对较低。回归模型表明，运动频率、中风、咀嚼和吞咽功能、蔬菜和水果摄入是老年人营养状况的危险因素。
中国 75 岁及以上老年人中营养不良较为常见，与运动频率、中风、咀嚼和吞咽功能以及蔬菜和水果摄入显著相关。因此，应在了解和指导老年人的口腔功能和饮食摄入的基础上进行营养管理。
