Common eating habit patterns are associated with a high maximum occlusal force and pre-eating cardiac vagal tone

PeerJ

article

Masahiro Okada¹  Kosuke Okada²  Masayuki Kakehashi³ 

[1] Department of Food and Dietetics, Hiroshima Bunka Gakuen Two-Year College;Department of Internal Medicine COOP Saeki Hospital;Graduate School of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Hiroshima University

关键词: Maximum occlusal force;    Autonomic nervous system;    Heart rate variability;    Vagal tone;    Eating habit;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.15091

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Inra

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundMasticatory function is associated with nervous function, including autonomic nervous function, and both functions are influenced by human habits. In a previous preliminary study of 53 young women, we found that eating habit patterns were associated with occlusal force as an indicator of masticatory function. Therefore, we hypothesized that relationships exist between occlusal force, the autonomic nervous system, and eating habit patterns.MethodsTo test our hypothesis, we analyzed the relationship between heart rate variability measured before and after lunch in 53 young women, and measured and surveyed maximum occlusal force and eating habit patterns, respectively, in these participants.ResultsHigh occlusal force was associated with an increased high-frequency (HF) component (vagal tone index) of the heart rate variability index immediately before lunch (standardized regression coefficient (β) = 0.417, P = 0.002). Each of the eating habit items surveyed in a questionnaire showed a similar tendency for the HF component immediately before lunch and maximum occlusal force; in particular, “Habit of eating breakfast” and “Number of meals per day” were significantly associated with both variables. Additionally, total eating habit scores related to higher maximum occlusal force were associated with an increase in the HF component immediately before lunch (β = 0.514, P < 0.001). The maximum occlusal force and the pre-eating HF component values were stratified by total eating habit scores (into low, medium, high categories), and the high scores were significantly higher than the medium or low scores.ConclusionsOcclusal force and the pre-eating cardiac vagal response of individuals were characterized by their common eating habit patterns, indicating that eating habits may be simultaneously associated with the development of masticatory function, nervous system development, and cardiovascular rhythm. Although further research is needed to investigate these relationships in detail, our findings provide insights that will inform the study of physical functions, neurodevelopment, habitual behaviors, and health in humans.

【 授权许可】

CC BY