Lettieri Monia, Rosa Alessio, Spataro Fabrizio, Capria Giovanni, Barnaba Paolo, Gargari Marco, Martelli Mirko
Section of Hygiene, Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00136 Rome, Italy.
Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy.
Nutrients. 2025 Jul 30;17(15):2507. doi: 10.3390/nu17152507.
Aging is a multifactorial process that affects various physiological functions, including masticatory performance, which is crucial for oral health and nutritional well-being. Impaired masticatory function, often due to factors such as tooth loss, reduced salivation, or muscle atrophy, can lead to significant nutritional challenges and compromise the overall health of elderly individuals. Recent research has illuminated the interconnectedness of masticatory function, oral microbiota, and gut health, suggesting that altered chewing ability may disrupt oral microbial communities, which in turn affect gastrointestinal health and systemic inflammation. This commentary review provides a comprehensive analysis of the role of masticatory function in aging, exploring its impact on the oral microbiota, gut health, and broader nutritional status. We discuss the potential consequences of impaired mastication, including malnutrition, dysbiosis, and gastrointestinal disorders, and explore possible strategies for improving masticatory function and maintaining a healthy gut microbiome through interventions like dietary modifications, oral care, and rehabilitation. We aim to underscore the importance of integrating masticatory function management into the broader context of aging-related healthcare, promoting holistic, multidisciplinary approaches to support nutritional needs and quality of life in older adults.
衰老是一个多因素过程，会影响各种生理功能，包括咀嚼功能，而咀嚼功能对口腔健康和营养状况至关重要。咀嚼功能受损通常是由牙齿缺失、唾液分泌减少或肌肉萎缩等因素引起的，这可能导致严重的营养挑战，并损害老年人的整体健康。最近的研究揭示了咀嚼功能、口腔微生物群和肠道健康之间的相互联系，表明咀嚼能力的改变可能会破坏口腔微生物群落，进而影响胃肠道健康和全身炎症。这篇评论综述全面分析了咀嚼功能在衰老过程中的作用，探讨了其对口腔微生物群、肠道健康和更广泛营养状况的影响。我们讨论了咀嚼功能受损的潜在后果，包括营养不良、微生物失调和胃肠道疾病，并探索通过饮食调整、口腔护理和康复等干预措施来改善咀嚼功能和维持健康肠道微生物群的可能策略。我们旨在强调将咀嚼功能管理纳入更广泛的衰老相关医疗保健背景的重要性，推广整体、多学科方法以满足老年人的营养需求并提高其生活质量。
