Dietary patterns affect occlusal force but not masticatory behavior in children.

AIM In this study, we conducted a dietary assessment of the subjects and investigated the relationship of energy, nutrients and food intake to the indices of masticatory ability and masticatory behavior for identifying the differences in their association with dietary patterns. METHODS The subjects were 61 5-y-old children, of whom 45 were included in the final analysis. Occlusal force was measured as an index of masticatory ability. To measure masticatory behavior, the number of chews and time taken for eating the test meal were measured. The subjects' food intake was determined by a food record completed by their guardians. The food intake was evaluated using a newly produced list of 90 foods thought to affect chewing, in addition to which we made two subsets of its food groups containing an abundance of insoluble dietary fiber. RESULTS Significant positive correlations were found between occlusal force and intake of dietary fibers, vegetables, set A food group, and set B food group (r=0.312-0.354). Significant differences were found in occlusal force by tertile groups for dietary fibers, vegetables, the 90 listed items, set A food group, and set B food group. In contrast, there was no significant correlation between the indices of masticatory behavior (the time-adjusted number of chews and time taken for eating the test meal) and those of dietary intake. CONCLUSION Indicators of masticatory ability and masticatory behavior have different implications in their association with dietary patterns in children.