Oral Health and Risk of Malnutrition in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE

Older adults are generally at risk of malnutrition due to a decline in physical function, with or without systemic diseases. The objective of this systematic review was to investigate the association between dentition/occlusal support measures and nutritional conditions in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.

METHODS

A comprehensive search of PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Google Scholar, and ICHUSHI databases was conducted from July to September 2024. Eight independent researchers performed data extraction and quality assessment using the modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Nineteen studies (12 cross-sectional and 7 cohort studies) were included.

RESULTS

The review revealed that individuals with 20 or more teeth consistently had significantly higher intake of various nutrients compared to those with fewer teeth. Similarly, compromised occlusal support was associated with reduced intake of vegetables, dietary fiber, and vitamins. Several studies demonstrated a significant association between edentulism or absence of occlusal support and an increased risk of malnutrition. Notably, a meta-analysis of two studies indicated that individuals with fewer than 20 teeth had a 52% increased risk of unintentional weight loss (odds ratio [OR]: 1.52; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08-2.14). Another meta-analysis showed edentulous individuals had a 43% higher likelihood of malnutrition risk compared to dentate individuals (OR: 1.43; 95% CI: 1.13-1.80).

CONCLUSION

These findings highlight that fewer remaining teeth, edentulism, and absence of occlusal support are significantly associated with adverse nutritional outcomes. This highlights the critical importance of maintaining functional dentition and integrating oral health assessments into routine geriatric care.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42024531807.