This study suggests that there was a significant relationship between nutrient intake, such as minerals and vitamins from food, and tooth loss.

Leg extensor power, stepping rate, and one-leg standing time with eyes open are useful indicators in evaluating lower extremity dynamic strength, agility, and balance function, respectively. These findings suggest that dental occlusal condition is associated with lower extremity dynamic strength, agility, and balance function in elderly adults.

These findings suggest that 10 mg/day of natural S-equol supplementation contributes to bone health in non-equol-producing postmenopausal women without adverse effects.

SummaryTo determine whether maximum bite force (MBF), an objective measure of oral function, is associated with development of frailty in community-dwelling older adults. This prospective cohort study included community-dwelling Japanese adults aged 75 years at baseline (n = 322). Baseline MBF was measured using an electronic recording device (Occlusal Force-Meter GM10). Follow-up examinations, including physical fitness and anthropometric evaluation and structured questionnaires, were administered annually over a 5-year period to determine the incidence of frailty, which was defined by the presence of 3 or more of the following 5 components derived from the Cardiovascular Health Study: low level of mobility, low physical activity level, weakness, shrinking and poor endurance and energy. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) of incidence of frailty according to sex-stratified tertiles of baseline MBF were calculated using Cox proportional hazards regression models. During the follow-up, 49 participants (15.2%) developed frailty. Participants in the lower tertile of MBF exhibited a significantly greater risk of frailty than those in the upper tertile. After adjustment for sex, depression, diabetes and Eichner index, the adjusted HRs for frailty in the upper through lower tertiles of MBF were 1.00 (reference), 1.27 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.50-3.20) and 2.78 (95% CI: 1.15-6.72), respectively (P for trend = .01). Poor oral function, as indicated by low MBF, increases the risk of development of frailty among elderly men and women. K E Y W O R D Scohort studies, dental occlusion, epidemiology, frail elderly, muscle strength, oral health | BACKGROUNDFrailty is a state of increased vulnerability to stressors, which develops as a consequence of age-related decline in multiple physiological systems.

BackgroundThis study aimed to examine the relationship between pedometer-assessed daily step count and all-cause mortality in a sample of elderly Japanese people.MethodsParticipants included 419 (228 males and 191 females) physically independent, community-dwelling 71-year-old Japanese people. The number of steps per day was measured by a waist-mounted pedometer for seven consecutive days at baseline. Participants were divided into quartiles based on their average number of steps/day (first quartile, < 4503 steps/day; second quartile, 4503–6110 steps/day; third quartile, 6111–7971 steps/day; fourth quartile, > 7972 steps/day) and were followed up over a mean period of 9.8 years (1999–2010) for mortality.ResultsSeventy-six participants (18.1%) died during the follow-up period. The hazard ratios (adjusted for sex, body mass index, cigarette smoking, alcohol intake, and medication use) for mortality across the quartiles of daily step count (lowest to highest) were 1.00 (reference), 0.81 (95%CI, 0.43–1.54), 1.26 (95%CI, 0.70–2.26), and 0.46 (95%CI, 0.22–0.96) (P for trend = 0.149). Participants in the highest quartile had a significantly lower risk of death compared with participants in the lowest quartile.ConclusionThis study suggested that a high daily step count is associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality in physically independent Japanese elderly people.