Relationship in very elderly veterans of nutritional status, self-perceived chewing ability, dental status, and social isolation.

The relationship of nutritional status, self-perceived chewing ability, dental status, and social isolation was examined. Seventy-three ambulatory, elderly (means = 86 years) veterans were studied. Parameters of nutritional status included intakes of protein, carbohydrate, fat, and total calories, and hemoglobin, serum albumin, total lymphocyte count, and height/weight ratio were determined. Dental status was measured, and self-perceived chewing problems and social isolation were assessed by interview. Results showed a significant correlation between perceived chewing problems and diminished protein and total caloric intake and increased carbohydrate intake. No association was found between measured dental status and nutritional status. Social isolation was weakly correlated with greater protein and calorie intake. These results support the contention that the presence of self-perceived chewing problems are more reliable than the quality of the dentition itself as an indicator of altered nutritional status.