Fibre intake in elderly individuals with poor masticatory performance.

The effects of masticatory performance on food selection and nutrient intake in non-institutionalized elderly subjects wearing dental prostheses were investigated. A poor masticatory performance was associated with significantly lower intakes of insoluble and dietary fibre for both sexes (as compared to subjects with a good masticatory performance) and with lower intakes of vitamin A in women only. Further, 37 per cent of subjects with low masticatory performance were taking gastrointestinal drugs, as compared to 20 per cent of subjects with good performance. A reduced consumption of hard-textured fibrous foods due to the deficient masticatory performance of elderly people wearing prostheses may promote the development of gastrointestinal disorders in susceptible individuals.