Student Korea University seoul, Seoul-t'ukpyolsi, Republic of Korea
Disclosure(s):
Megan S. Rojas Guzman, Master's: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Objectives: Studies suggest that chewing discomfort may reduce physical functionality and limit nutrient intakes, leading to an increased risk of sarcopenia in older adults. This study examined the association between chewing discomfort and handgrip strength (a reliable indicator of muscle strength and risk of sarcopenia) in Korean older adults.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using data from 4,553 participants aged ≥55 years old in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2016-2018. During a health interview, chewing discomfort was reported in the following categories: very uncomfortable, uncomfortable, neutral, not uncomfortable, and not uncomfortable at all. Handgrip strength was measured in kilograms, using a handgrip digital dynamometer. Linear regression was performed to estimate beta coefficient (β) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the relationship between chewing comfort and handgrip strength adjusting for age, sex, socioeconomic factors, comorbidities, body mass index, and protein intake.
Results: Participants who reported “very uncomfortable” when chewing presented a significantly lower handgrip strength compared to those who reported “not uncomfortable at all” (β: -1.06 kg; 95% CI: -1.79, -0.33). The association remained statistically significant after additional adjustment for protein intake and body mass index (β: -0.80 kg; 95% CI: -1.51, -0.10; p<0.05). A dose-response analysis showed that greater severity of chewing discomfort is associated with lower handgrip strength (p-trend <0.01). When stratified by sex and age, similar patterns of associations were observed between male and female and between age groups.
Conclusions: Chewing discomfort is associated with lower handgrip strength in Korean older adults. These findings emphasize the importance of oral health and nutrition in mitigating functional decline and preventing sarcopenia in aging societies.
Funding Sources: This study was supported by Brain Korea 21 Program.
