Sex-related differences in the association between protein intake and masticatory difficulty in older Korean adults (성별에 따른 한국 노인의 단백질 섭취와 저작 불편 간의 관련성)

Ha-Na Shim (심하나); Seong-Sook Lee (이성숙); In-Ja Kim (김인자)

doi:10.13065/jksdh.2025.25.5.7

Sex-related differences in the association between protein intake and masticatory difficulty in older Korean adults

Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
Abbr : J Korean Soc Dent Hyg
2025, 25(5), 419-425
DOI : 10.13065/jksdh.2025.25.5.7
Publisher : Korean Society of Dental Hygiene
Research Area : Medicine and Pharmacy > Dentistry
Received : August 13, 2025
Accepted : September 9, 2025
Published : October 30, 2025

Ha-Na Shim ¹, Seong-Sook Lee ², In-Ja Kim ²

¹안산대학교 치위생학과
²여주대학교 치위생과

Accredited

ABSTRACT

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to examine the sex-related association between protein intake and chewing discomfort in older adults. Methods: In this study, we included 2,969 adults aged ≥65 years and performed analyses using raw data from the first and second surveys of the 9th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Moreover, we performed complex-sample cross-tabulation and multiple logistic regression analyses. Results: In both older men and women, the proportion reporting chewing discomfort was higher in the group with a protein intake below the recommended level than in the group meeting or exceeding the recommended level (p<0.05). The risk of chewing discomfort was approximately 1.5 and 1.4 times higher in older men and women, respectively, with protein intake below the recommendation than in those meeting or exceeding the recommendation (p<0.05). Although we observed a statistically significant association between protein intake and chewing discomfort in both sexes, this significance disappeared upon controlling for covariates (p<0.05). Conclusions: Although an association was present between protein intake and chewing discomfort among older adults, statistical significance was lost after adjusting for covariates, suggesting that the effect of protein intake on chewing discomfort might be influenced by combined demographic and sociological factors.

KEYWORDS

Elderly, Gender, Masticatory difficulty, Oral health, Protein

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* References for papers published after 2025 are currently being built.

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Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene 2025 KCI Impact Factor : 1.22

Sex-related differences in the association between protein intake and masticatory difficulty in older Korean adults

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* References for papers published after 2025 are currently being built.

Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene 2025 KCI Impact Factor : 1.22

Sex-related differences in the association between protein intake and masticatory difficulty in older Korean adults

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