Tooth Loss, Denture Use, and Risk of Malnutrition in Older Adults in Poland: Evidence from the National PolSenior2 Study

Nutrients 2026 Open access

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Authors: Wojciech Dąbrowski, Aleksandra Kaluźniak-Szymanowska, Kacper Jagiełło, Łukasz Wierucki, Renata Górska, Hanna Kujawska-Danecka, Katarzyna Wieczorowska-Tobis
DOI: 10.3390/nu18061010
Cited by: 2
References: 23

Abstract

Background: Malnutrition and its risk are prevalent in older adults and contribute to frailty, morbidity, and mortality. Poor oral health—particularly tooth loss and inadequate prosthetic rehabilitation—may impair chewing, limit dietary variety, and accelerate nutritional decline. We investigated associations between dentition status, denture use, and nutritional status in a nationally representative sample of Polish older adults. Methods: We analyzed data from 5214 participants aged ≥60 years from the nationwide cross-sectional PolSenior2 study. Dentition status was classified as functional dentition (≥20 teeth), partial dentition (1–19 teeth), or edentulism (0 teeth). Nutritional status was assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment—Short Form (MNA-SF); impaired nutritional status was defined as MNA-SF

Fields of Study & Subjects

Dental Health and Care Utilization Nutrition and Health in Aging Frailty in Older Adults

Publication details

Journal / source
Nutrients
Publisher
MDPI AG
Volume
18
Issue
6
Pages
1010–1010
Publication date
23 March 2026
Language
EN