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Sarcopenia and Mastication

  • Oral Disease and Nutrition (F Nishimura, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Oral Health Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Sarcopenia is a disease characterized by a decrease in muscle mass with aging, and it has received widespread attention because it accelerates physical frailty. In this review, we conducted a literature search to determine the effect of sarcopenia on mastication.

Recent Findings

The literature review was performed for the last 5 years using PubMed. The results showed that sarcopenia was observed in the masticatory muscles and suprahyoid muscles. Also, tongue pressure was decreased with sarcopenia and was associated with decreased masticatory and swallowing function. Furthermore, masticatory functions were deteriorated by localized factors such as tooth loss, and systematic factors such as sarcopenia and frailty. However, only a few studies have evaluated the effect of exercise training on sarcopenia in elderly individuals.

Summary

Sarcopenia is associated with decreased masticatory function. The efficacy of functional training that combines information about nutrition and exercise should be assessed in the future.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Crimson Interactive Pvt. Ltd. (Ulatus)—www.ulatus.jp—for their assistance in manuscript translation and editing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Advanced Prosthodontics, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Kasumi 1-2-3, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8553, Japan

    Mitsuyoshi Yoshida & Kazuhiro Tsuga

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  1. Mitsuyoshi Yoshida
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  2. Kazuhiro Tsuga
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Correspondence to Mitsuyoshi Yoshida.

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Yoshida, M., Tsuga, K. Sarcopenia and Mastication. Curr Oral Health Rep 7, 179–187 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40496-020-00270-6

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