Association of periodontitis with handgrip strength and skeletal muscle mass in middle-aged US adults from NHANES 2013–2014

OBJECTIVES: The relationship between periodontitis and sarcopenia parameters in middle-aged adults is largely unexplored. This study investigated the association between periodontitis and combined handgrip strength and skeletal muscle mass in middle-aged adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A sub-cohort of 1912 individuals with complete periodontal and whole-body dual X-ray absorptiometry examinations from the 2013–2014 wave of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (n = 10,175) were analyzed using fully adjusted multiple linear regression models for associations between periodontitis and skeletal muscle mass index (kg/m(2)) and combined handgrip strength (kg). RESULTS: The mean age of the study cohort was 43 (± 8.4) years and 49.4% of the participants were male. In total, 612 participants (32%) were determined to have periodontitis, of which 513 (26.8%) had non-severe (mild or moderate) periodontitis, and 99 (5.2%) had severe periodontitis. In unadjusted regression models, both non-severe and severe periodontitis were associated with SMMI (β(non-severe) = 1.01, 95% CI 0.50; 1.52 and β(severe) = 1.42, 95% CI 0.59; 2.25) but not with cHGS. After adjusting for age, sex, education, body mass index, bone mineral density, diabetic status, education, total energy intake, total protein intake, and serum vitamin D2 + D3, periodontitis was associated with cHGS (β(non-severe) = -2.81, 95% CI − 4.7; − 1.15 and β(severe) = − 2.73, 95% CI − 6.31; 0.83). The association between periodontitis and SMMI remained for non-severe periodontitis (β(non-severe) = 0.07, 95% CI − 0.26; 0.40 and β(severe) = 0.22, 95% CI − 0.34; 0.78). CONCLUSION: The present study highlights the need of further prospective research to investigate the nature and direction of the relationship between periodontitis and sarcopenia indicators. Future studies can support the screening, prevention and clinical management of sarcopenia and periodontitis, and emphasize the interdisciplinary and complementary approach between the disciplines of geriatric medicine and periodontology. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40520-023-02471-2.