# Association Between Chewing Status and Steatotic Liver Disease in Japanese People Aged ≥50 Years: A Cohort Study

## TL;DR

Poor chewing status is linked to a higher risk of developing fatty liver disease in older Japanese people, suggesting dental care could help prevent this condition.

## Contribution

This study identifies a novel association between chewing ability and steatotic liver disease in an aging Japanese population.

## Key findings

- Participants with poor chewing status had a 47% higher risk of developing steatotic liver disease.
- Males, older age, higher BMI, and elevated diastolic blood pressure were also associated with increased SLD risk.
- The study followed participants over four years, showing a longitudinal link between chewing and liver health.

## Abstract

Background/Objectives: In this longitudinal study, the relationship between chewing status and steatotic liver disease (SLD) was examined in 3775 people aged ≥50 years who underwent medical checkups at Junpukai Health Maintenance Center in Okayama, Japan. Methods: Participants without SLD at the time of a baseline survey in 2018 were followed until 2022. Chewing status was assessed by a self-administered questionnaire. The presence or absence of SLD was ascertained from the medical records of Junpukai Health Maintenance Center. Results: A total of 541 participants (14%) were diagnosed as having a poor chewing status at baseline. Furthermore, 318 (8%) participants were newly diagnosed with SLD at follow-up. In multivariate logistic regression analyses, the presence or absence of SLD was found to be associated with the following characteristics at baseline: sex (male: odds ratio [ORs] = 1.806; 95% confidence interval [CIs]: 1.399–2.351), age (ORs = 0.969; 95% CIs: 0.948–0.991), body mass index (≥25.0 kg/m2; ORs = 1.934; 95% CIs: 1.467–2.549), diastolic blood pressure (ORs = 1.017; 95% CIs: 1.002–1.032), and chewing status (poor: ORs = 1.472; 95% CIs: 1.087–1.994). Conclusions: The results indicate that a poor chewing status was associated with SLD development after 4 years. Aggressively recommending dental visits to participants with poor chewing status may not only improve their ability to chew well but may also reduce the incidence of SLD.