{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,24]],"date-time":"2026-09-24T23:27:18Z","timestamp":1790292438492,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":27,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,23]],"date-time":"2026-03-23T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1774224000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Nutrients"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Malnutrition and its risk are prevalent in older adults and contribute to frailty, morbidity, and mortality. Poor oral health\u2014particularly tooth loss and inadequate prosthetic rehabilitation\u2014may 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 \u226560 years from the nationwide cross-sectional PolSenior2 study. Dentition status was classified as functional dentition (\u226520 teeth), partial dentition (1\u201319 teeth), or edentulism (0 teeth). Nutritional status was assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment\u2014Short Form (MNA-SF); impaired nutritional status was defined as MNA-SF &lt;12 (malnourished or at risk). Additional indicators included hypoalbuminemia (&lt;35 g\/L) and small calf circumference (&lt;31 cm). Associations were tested using chi-square and multivariable logistic regression adjusted for age, sex, education, and place of residence. Results: Functional dentition was present in 15.5%, partial dentition in 48.1%, and edentulism in 36.4% of participants. The proportion of edentulous individuals increased across worsening MNA-SF categories (26.2% in well-nourished, 41.8% in at risk, 46.9% in malnourished). In adjusted models, edentulism was associated with higher odds of impaired nutritional status compared with functional dentition (OR: 1.66; 95% CI: 1.32\u20132.10; p &lt; 0.001), while partial dentition showed a non-significant trend (OR: 1.22; 95% CI: 0.98\u20131.52; p = 0.077). Among edentulous participants, denture use was more common in well-nourished individuals than in those with impaired nutritional status (93.0% vs. 77.2%), suggesting a possible association between active prosthetic rehabilitation and better nutritional status. Conclusions: In Polish older adults, tooth loss\u2014particularly edentulism\u2014is associated with poorer nutritional status. Screening for malnutrition risk may benefit from incorporating basic oral health and denture-use assessment while improved access to prosthetic rehabilitation may support nutritional resilience in ageing populations.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/nu18061010","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,23]],"date-time":"2026-03-23T09:48:42Z","timestamp":1774259322000},"page":"1010","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Tooth Loss, Denture Use, and Risk of Malnutrition in Older Adults in Poland: Evidence from the National PolSenior2 Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"18","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2066-4309","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Wojciech","family":"D\u0105browski","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dental Prosthetics, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gda\u0144sk, 80-210 Gda\u0144sk, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Aleksandra","family":"Kalu\u017aniak-Szymanowska","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Geriatric Unit, Department of Palliative Medicine, Pozna\u0144 University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Pozna\u0144, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kacper","family":"Jagie\u0142\u0142o","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Preventive Medicine and Education, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gda\u0144sk, 80-210 Gda\u0144sk, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"\u0141ukasz","family":"Wierucki","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Preventive Medicine and Education, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gda\u0144sk, 80-210 Gda\u0144sk, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Renata","family":"G\u00f3rska","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Periodontology and Oral Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hanna","family":"Kujawska-Danecka","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Rheumatology, Clinical Immunology, Geriatrics and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Gda\u0144sk, 80-210 Gda\u0144sk, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Katarzyna","family":"Wieczorowska-Tobis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Geriatric Unit, Department of Palliative Medicine, Pozna\u0144 University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Pozna\u0144, Poland"},{"name":"Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Pozna\u0144 University of Life Sciences, 60-637 Pozna\u0144, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,23]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"507","DOI":"10.3945\/an.115.011254","article-title":"Risk factors for malnutrition in older adults: A systematic review of the literature based on longitudinal data","volume":"7","author":"Matthys","year":"2016","journal-title":"Adv. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"824","DOI":"10.1016\/j.clnu.2017.03.014","article-title":"Relationship of nutritional status and oral health in elderly: Systematic review with meta-analysis","volume":"37","author":"Toniazzo","year":"2018","journal-title":"Clin. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1031","DOI":"10.1017\/S1368980013001341","article-title":"Socio-economic determinants of micronutrient intake and status in Europe: A systematic review","volume":"17","author":"Cavelaars","year":"2014","journal-title":"Public Health Nutr."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"304","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1752-7325.2000.tb03339.x","article-title":"Oral health and nutrition in older people","volume":"60","author":"Walls","year":"2000","journal-title":"J. Public Health Dent."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Li, L., Liu, X., Fang, Y., Guo, K., Li, L., Cai, S., Hu, C., and Hu, B. (2025). Global patterns of change in the burden of malnutrition in older adults from 1990 to 2021 and the forecast for the next 25 years. Front. Nutr., 12.","DOI":"10.3389\/fnut.2025.1562536"},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100583","DOI":"10.1016\/j.puhip.2025.100583","article-title":"Global prevalence of malnutrition in older adults: A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"9","author":"Salari","year":"2025","journal-title":"Public Health Pract."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"123","DOI":"10.1177\/154405910308200209","article-title":"Association of edentulism and diet and nutrition in US adults","volume":"82","author":"Sheiham","year":"2003","journal-title":"J. Dent. Res."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"207","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1752-7325.2009.00124.x","article-title":"The effect of functional dentition on Healthy Eating Index scores and nutrient intakes in a nationally representative sample of older adults","volume":"69","author":"Ervin","year":"2009","journal-title":"J. Public Health Dent."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Algra, Y., Haverkort, E., Kok, W., Etten-Jamaludin, F.V., Schoot, L.V., Hollaar, V., Naumann, E., Schueren, M.D.V.D., and Jerkovi\u0107-\u0106osi\u0107, K. (2021). The association between malnutrition and oral health in older people: A systematic review. Nutrients, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/nu13103584"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"131","DOI":"10.2186\/jpr.JPOR_2019_567","article-title":"Association between oral health and sarcopenia: A literature review","volume":"65","author":"Hatta","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Prosthodont. Res."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"16","DOI":"10.1093\/ageing\/afy169","article-title":"Sarcopenia: Revised European consensus on definition and diagnosis","volume":"48","author":"Bahat","year":"2019","journal-title":"Age Ageing"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"438","DOI":"10.1016\/j.clnu.2012.09.008","article-title":"Malnutrition and associated factors in nursing home residents: A cross-sectional, multi-centre study","volume":"32","author":"Verbrugghe","year":"2013","journal-title":"Clin. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"393","DOI":"10.1111\/ger.12718","article-title":"Effect of oral health status and oral function on malnutrition in community-dwelling older adult dental patients: A two-year prospective cohort study","volume":"41","author":"Sawada","year":"2024","journal-title":"Gerodontology"},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"853","DOI":"10.1016\/j.mad.2004.07.011","article-title":"The relationship between oral health and nutrition in older people","volume":"125","author":"Walls","year":"2004","journal-title":"Mech. Ageing Dev."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ota, A., Kondo, N., Murayama, N., Tanabe, N., Shobugawa, Y., and Kondo, K. (2016). Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES) group. Serum albumin levels and economic status in Japanese older adults. PLoS ONE, 11.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0155022"},{"key":"ref_16","first-page":"23","article-title":"Evaluating changes in dental status among Polish older adults over a decade: A comparative analysis of the PolSenior (2009) and PolSenior2 (2019) surveys","volume":"62","author":"Mossakowska","year":"2025","journal-title":"Dent. Med. Probl."},{"key":"ref_17","first-page":"15","article-title":"Trends in unmet denture needs among Polish seniors with partial or complete edentulism: A comparative analysis of the PolSenior (2009) and PolSenior2 (2019) surveys","volume":"63","author":"Suligowska","year":"2026","journal-title":"Dent. Med. Probl."},{"key":"ref_18","first-page":"92","article-title":"Health status and its socio-economic covariates in the older population in Poland\u2014The assumptions and methods of the nationwide, cross-sectional PolSenior2 survey","volume":"18","author":"Wierucki","year":"2020","journal-title":"Arch. Med. Sci."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kossioni, A.E. (2018). The association of poor oral health parameters with malnutrition in older adults: A review considering the potential implications for cognitive impairment. Nutrients, 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/nu10111709"},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Azzolino, D., Passarelli, P.C., De Angelis, P., Piccirillo, G.B., D\u2019Addona, A., and Cesari, M. (2019). Poor oral health as a determinant of malnutrition and sarcopenia. Nutrients, 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/nu11122898"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kaurani, P., Kakodkar, P., Bhowmick, A., Samra, R.K., and Bansal, V. (2024). Association of tooth loss and nutritional status in adults: An overview of systematic reviews. BMC Oral Health, 24.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12903-024-04602-1"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Sahab, L., Newton, J.T., and Sabbah, W. (2025). The nutritional pathway between tooth loss and healthy ageing: A longitudinal study of older American adults. Nutrients, 17.","DOI":"10.3390\/nu17040719"},{"key":"ref_23","first-page":"521","article-title":"Functional and psychosocial impacts of oral disorders in Canadian adults: A national population survey","volume":"75","author":"Locker","year":"2009","journal-title":"J. Can. Dent. Assoc."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Schmalz, G., Denkler, C.R., Kottmann, T., Rinke, S., and Ziebolz, D. (2021). Oral health-related quality of life, oral conditions, and risk of malnutrition in older German people in need of care\u2014A cross-sectional study. J. Clin. Med., 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm10030426"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1741-2358.2004.00048.x","article-title":"Impact of new prostheses on the oral health-related quality of life of edentulous patients","volume":"22","author":"Veyrune","year":"2005","journal-title":"Gerodontology"},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1661","DOI":"10.1093\/gerona\/glx225","article-title":"Oral frailty as a risk factor for physical frailty and mortality in community-dwelling elderly","volume":"73","author":"Tanaka","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kugimiya, Y., Iwasaki, M., Ohara, Y., Motokawa, K., Edahiro, A., Shirobe, M., Watanabe, Y., Obuchi, S., Kawai, H., and Fujiwara, Y. (2021). Relationship between oral hypofunction and sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults: The Otassha study. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 18.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph18126666"}],"container-title":["Nutrients"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2072-6643\/18\/6\/1010\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,23]],"date-time":"2026-03-23T10:01:43Z","timestamp":1774260103000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2072-6643\/18\/6\/1010"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,23]]},"references-count":27,"journal-issue":{"issue":"6","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,3]]}},"alternative-id":["nu18061010"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/nu18061010","relation":{},"ISSN":["2072-6643"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2072-6643","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,23]]}}}