The purpose of the present study was to develop a new assessment scale to evaluate masticatory ability among community-dwelling elderly individuals. The study comprised 761 independent elderly subjects residing in the community. We pooled 25 food items with various textures. Based upon the pass rate and nonresponse rate, we extracted 9 food items to be included in the masticatory ability assessment for the community-dwelling elderly (MACE). The reliability of this assessment was determined using Cronbach’s alpha coefficients. We then examined the concurrent validity of the MACE by comparing it with an existing method termed “mastication score.” Additionally, the convergent validity was examined by comparing the correlation coefficients of MACE, general oral health assessment index (GOHAI), and the number of teeth. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of MACE was 0.89 ( ), indicating satisfactory reliability. MACE was significantly correlated with the mastication score ( ), GOHAI ( ), and the number of teeth ( ). These results suggest that MACE is a useful tool with sufficient reliability and validity to identify declines in masticatory ability among community-dwelling elderly individuals. 1. Introduction It is very important for middle-aged and elderly individuals in particular to maintain a healthy diet. Furthermore, for community-dwelling elderly persons, dietary insufficiency is adversely associated with overall health status [1, 2]. The digestive process begins with mastication, which is influenced by oral health status [3, 4]. Some cross-sectional studies report that chewing function is related to nutritional status, food selection, body composition (sarcopenia), and physical balance [5, 6]. In particular, poor mastication may contribute to restricted fruit and vegetable intake [7, 8]. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of Japan indicated that 26.6% of Japanese people aged 60–69 years and 40.8% of Japanese people above 70 years of age had difficulty chewing [9] Interestingly, Bradbury et al. reported that the combined approach of improved masticatory ability and provision of suitable nutritional guidance was effective in increasing fruit and vegetable intake among the elderly [10]. Improvement of masticatory status has been stated as a part of the Food and Nutrition Education (Shokuiku) by the Cabinet of Japan [11]. However, few assessments on the masticatory status of community-dwelling elderly individuals have been reported. In many epidemiological studies among community-dwelling elderly persons, subjective evaluation has frequently
References
[1]
M. Bes-Rastrollo, M. A. Martínez-González, A. Sánchez-Villegas, C. de la Fuente Arrillaga, and J. A. Martínez, “Association of fiber intake and fruit/vegetable consumption with weight gain in a Mediterranean population,” Nutrition, vol. 22, no. 5, pp. 504–511, 2006.
[2]
K. Lock, J. Pomerleau, L. Causer, D. R. Altmann, and M. McKee, “The global burden of disease attributable to low consumption of fruit and vegetables: implications for the global strategy on diet,” Bulletin of the World Health Organization, vol. 83, no. 2, pp. 100–108, 2005.
[3]
J. L. Leake, “An index of chewing ability,” Journal of Public Health Dentistry, vol. 50, no. 4, pp. 262–267, 1990.
[4]
E. Krall, C. Hayes, and R. Garcia, “How dentition status and masticatory function affect nutrient intake,” Journal of the American Dental Association, vol. 129, no. 9, pp. 1261–1269, 1998.
[5]
W. Marcenes, J. G. Steel, A. Sheiham, and A. W. Walls, “The relationship between dental status, food selection, nutrient status, and body mass index in older people,” Cadernos de saúde pública/Ministério da Saúde, Funda？？o Oswaldo Cruz, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 809–816, 2003.
[6]
S. Moriya, K. Tei, Y. Yamazaki et al., “Relationships between perceived chewing ability and muscle strength of the body among the elderly,” Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, vol. 38, no. 9, pp. 674–679, 2011.
[7]
M. Yoshida, T. Kikutani, M. Yoshikawa, K. Tsuga, M. Kimura, and Y. Akagawa, “Correlation between dental and nutritional status in community-dwelling elderly Japanese,” Geriatrics and Gerontology International, vol. 11, no. 3, pp. 315–319, 2011.
[8]
P. Mojon, E. Budtz-J？rgensen, and C. H. Rapin, “Relationship between oral health and nutrition in very old people,” Age and Ageing, vol. 28, no. 5, pp. 463–468, 1999.
[9]
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, National Health and Nutrition Survey (Fiscal 2009), Tokyo, Japan, 2011.
[10]
J. Bradbury, J. M. Thomason, N. J. A. Jepson, A. W. G. Walls, P. F. Allen, and P. J. Moynihan, “Nutrition counseling increases fruit and vegetable intake in the edentulous,” Journal of Dental Research, vol. 85, no. 5, pp. 463–468, 2006.
[11]
Office for Shokuiku Promotion, Cabinet Office, and Government of Japan, What We Know From SHOKUIKU, the Japanese Spirit -Food and Nutrition Education in Japan, Tokyo, Japan, 2010.
[12]
H. Koshino, T. Hirai, Y. Toyoshita, et al., “Development of new food intake questionnaire method for evaluating the ability of mastication in complete denture wearers,” Prosthodontic Research & Practice, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 12–18, 2008.
[13]
Y. Sato, S. Minagi, Y. Akagawa, and T. Nagasawa, “An evaluation of chewing function of complete denture wearers,” The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, vol. 62, no. 1, pp. 50–53, 1989.
[14]
M. Naito, Y. Suzukamo, T. Nakayama, N. Hamajima, and S. Fukuhara, “Linguistic adaptation and validation of the General Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) in an elderly Japanese population,” Journal of Public Health Dentistry, vol. 66, no. 4, pp. 273–275, 2006.
[15]
T. Hirai, T. Ishijima, H. Koshino, and T. Anzai, “Age-related change of masticatory function in complete denture wearers: evaluation by a sieving method with peanuts and a food intake questionnaire method,” The International Journal of Prosthodontics, vol. 7, no. 5, pp. 454–460, 1994.
[16]
W. Koyano, M. Hashimoto, T. Fukawa, H. Shibata, and A. Gunji, “Functional capacity of the elderly: measurement by the TMIG Index of Competence,” Japanese Journal of Public Health, vol. 40, no. 6, pp. 468–474, 1993.
[17]
M. Shiomi, R. Okamoto, and S. Iwamoto, “Development of competency measurement concerning the creation of projects/social resources for public health nurses: investigation of reliability and validity,” Japanese Journal of Public Health, vol. 56, no. 6, pp. 391–401, 2009.
[18]
M. K. Campbell, I. Tessaro, B. DeVellis et al., “Effects of a tailored health promotion program for female blue-collar workers: health works for women,” Preventive Medicine, vol. 34, no. 3, pp. 313–323, 2002.
[19]
B. Sternfeld, C. Block, C. P. Quesenberry et al., “Improving diet and physical sctivity with ALIVE: a worksite randomized trial,” American Journal of Preventive Medicine, vol. 36, no. 6, pp. 475–483, 2009.
[20]
H. Miura, Y. Araki, T. Hirai, E. Isogai, K. Hirose, and T. Umenai, “Evaluation of chewing activity in the elderly person,” Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, vol. 25, no. 3, pp. 190–193, 1998.
[21]
K. Tominaga and Y. Ando, “A study of the consistency between subjective and objective evaluation of mastication,” Journal of Dental Health, vol. 57, no. 3, pp. 166–175, 2007.
[22]
H. Miura, K. Miura, H. Mizugai, Y. Arai, T. Umenai, and E. Isogai, “Chewing ability and quality of life among the elderly residing in a rural community in Japan,” Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, vol. 27, no. 8, pp. 731–734, 2000.
