Lower Masticatory Performance Is a Risk for the Development of the Metabolic Syndrome: The Suita Study

Abstract

Objectives: Declined masticatory function has recently been receiving attention as a risk factor for poor general health. The present longitudinal analysis was conducted to clarify the relationship between decreased masticatory performance and the development of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) in a general urban cohort in Japan.Methods: We surveyed 599 participants (254 men, 345 women; mean age at baseline, 65.8 ± 7.8 years) who underwent physical health checkups in the Suita study. We evaluated masticatory performance at baseline using test gummy jelly and divided participants into two groups: a “Lower group,” comprising participants in the lower 25% of the masticatory performance at baseline; and a “Normal group,” comprising all others. We estimated hazard ratios (HRs) for the Lower group by using Cox proportional hazard regression analysis to develop the MetS and the components of the MetS at follow-up, adjusting for age, smoking status, and periodontal status.Results: On Cox proportional hazard regression analysis, the multivariable adjusted hazard ratio for the development of the MetS in the Lower group was 2.24 (95% confidence interval, 1.12–4.50) in men. The multivariable adjusted hazard ratio for the development of high blood pressure was 3.12 (1.42–6.87), for high triglycerides was 2.82 (1.18–6.76), and for high fasting plasma glucose was 2.65 (1.00–7.00) in men.Conclusions: Lower masticatory performance suggested to be a risk factor for the development of the MetS as well as MetS components such as high blood pressure, high triglycerides, and high fasting plasma glucose in Japanese men.

Tooth Loss Related with Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in a General Urban Japanese Population: The Suita Study

“…These results indicate that the association between tooth loss and MetS and lipid/carbohydrate abnormalities is particularly pronounced in women. However, Fushida et al [ 4 ] followed 599 adults in their 50s and 70s for an average of 4.4 years in the same field as this study. They found that in men with a low objective masticatory performance at baseline, the risk of developing new MetS, hypertension, high blood glucose, and triglyceride levels was significantly higher, but no significant difference was observed in women.…”

“…It has been reported that age-related tooth loss causes poor masticatory ability, which causes malnutrition and poses a risk of general frailty and leads to poor nutritional balance through changes in food choices [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. Recently, Fushida et al showed in a follow-up study that reduced objective masticatory performance poses a risk for the development of hypertension, triglyceride levels, hyperglycemia, and metabolic syndrome (MetS), a complex condition of overlapping hypertension, abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, and hyperglycemia in the same individual [ 4 ]. This emphasizes the importance of masticatory performance assessment in health promotion to prevent cardiovascular disease.…”

The Association of Dietary Intake, Oral Health, and Blood Pressure in Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study

“…It is widely established that there are relationships between nutrition and hypertension [ 38 , 39 , 40 ], and between oral health and hypertension [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 41 ]. A study by Fushida et al [ 41 ] elucidated the link between high BP and decreased masticatory performance; however, their study did not assess the role of oral health in nutrition. As stated by the authors, a non-direct causal relationship was assumed between high BP and decreased masticatory ability [ 41 ].…”

“…A study by Fushida et al [ 41 ] elucidated the link between high BP and decreased masticatory performance; however, their study did not assess the role of oral health in nutrition. As stated by the authors, a non-direct causal relationship was assumed between high BP and decreased masticatory ability [ 41 ]. Nutritional status is expected to be very strongly associated with the relationship between high BP and decreased masticatory performance, among several other expected confounding factors [ 8 , 41 ].…”

“…As stated by the authors, a non-direct causal relationship was assumed between high BP and decreased masticatory ability [ 41 ]. Nutritional status is expected to be very strongly associated with the relationship between high BP and decreased masticatory performance, among several other expected confounding factors [ 8 , 41 ]. Therefore, the authors felt the need to investigate further the association of oral health with hypertension, indirectly, by assessing nutrition, to better understand the cardiovascular demographics in older adults.…”