Preliminary Findings: Mealtime Consumption Impact on Isotonic Lingual Endurance

Abstract

Record ID: 282

Award(s): Excellence in Research Communication

Program Affiliation: Capstone

Presentation Type: Poster

Abstract: Eating a meal is an essential function of daily life and the ability to eat safely and efficiently has proven implications for positive health outcomes. As individuals age, lingual function may decline and affect aspects of oropharyngeal function, including a person's ability to eat a meal.     The purpose of this study is to determine if isotonic endurance is impacted by eating a meal in a cohort of healthy adults. We hypothesized that a decline would occur in lingual endurance following mealtime consumption.     Isotonic lingual function was measured using the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI®). First, Maximum Isometric Press (MIP) was measured (i.e. press as hard as possible with the tip of your tongue against the bulb). Isotonic endurance is measured as the number of repetitions a participant can complete at 50% MIP. Next, participants ate a small meal, including half of a bagel with peanut butter, 8 baby carrots, and 8 ounces of chocolate milk. After the completion of the meal, Isotonic endurance was measured again using the same target (50% pre-meal MIP). Preliminary results did not show an impact of eating a meal on isotonic endurance in either age group. For the older participants, the average mealtime was 12 minutes and 32 seconds; for the younger cohort average mealtime was 11 minutes and 46 seconds. Approximately, ½ of each cohort experienced an increase in isotonic repetitions after the meal (55% for young, 53% for old), which is contrary to the hypothesis.