Oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) can lead to an antioxidant micronutrient deficiency. A recent study (Homem SG, et al., Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2020 Aug;38:211-217. doi: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2020.04.011) investigated this in the elderly, with respect to antioxidant vitamins (β-carotene, vitamin E and C) and serum markers of inflammatory response (C-reactive protein, myeloperoxidase (MPO), nitric oxide metabolites (NOx), tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6).
It was a cross-sectional study of 69 individuals: 22 in the control group (CG) and 47 in the OD group (ODG). The ODG was subdivided into ODG-mild = normal oral feeding (OF, n = 14), ODG-moderate (OF-modified, n = 22) and ODG-severe (OF-suspended, n = 11).
Body mass index (BMI), a marker for general nutritional status, was higher in the ODG than in the CG (p = 0.008), independent of sex, age, energy intake (EI) and score on the Functional Independence Measure. OD associated with lower concentrations of β-carotene (p < 0.001) and vitamin C (p < 0.001), independent of sex, age and EI, and higher concentrations of MPO (p = 0.008) and NOx (p = 0.011), independently of sex, age and the presence of comorbidities.
Thus, older adults with OD have lower levels of two antioxidant vitamins, and a high inflammatory response. In other posts we have observed that lower levels of NO are a direct consequence of non-nasal breathing. This study shows that lower NO levels can go with swallowing disorders too.
Oro myofunctional therapy and speech therapy in Portland address oromyofunctional disorders, supporting nasal breathing and swallowing function, which are linked to nitric oxide levels and inflammatory responses.
MyoNews from BreatheWorksTM is a report on trends and developments in oromyofunctional disorder and therapy. These updates are not intended as diagnosis, treatment, cure or prevention of any disease or syndrome.
