Relationship between Subjective Masticatory Ability and Metabolic Syndrome in Specific Health Check-Up Participants.

[Purpose] We examined the relationships between subjective masticatory ability and indices related to metabolic syndrome for specific health check-up participants. [Subjects] The subjects were 56 specific health checkup participants. [Method] We compared the results of anthropometric measurements, blood tests, bite strength, and a questionnaire on eating habits with good and poor subjective masticatory ability. [Results] Bite strength was significantly higher in the good group, and in the comparison of the blood tests, Hb_A1c was significantly lower in the good group. With regard to the questionnaire, the good group took longer over lunch, ate meals slowly, and had a tendency to avoid light meals. [Conclusion] Those with good subjective masticatory ability took care over the speed and content of meals, and had a strong bite. The results also suggest a relationship between subjective masticatory ability and Hb_A1c. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]