Mandibular and palatal tori, bone mineral density, and salivary cortisol in community-dwelling elderly men and women

Background. This investigation evaluated the relationship between the prese nce of tori and bone mineral density (BMD) and salivary cortisol levels. Methods. A total of 230 healthy, community-dwelling elderly men (n = 129) a nd women (n = 101) aged 60 and older participated in this study. Forty-thre e women were on hormone replacement therapy (HRT). This was a component of a 5-year longitudinal study measuring subjects' body composition, hormone l evels, physical activity, and diet every 6 months. Subjects were examined f or the presence of tori by visual inspection and digital palpation. BMD at six sites was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Salivary cortis ol levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. Results. Twenty-three percent of all subjects had mandibular tori, 13% had palatal tori, and 12% had both mandibular and palatal tori. Mandibular tori were more common in men, and palatal tod were more common in women. The pr esence of mandibular tori was significantly correlated with BMD of the lumb ar spine, femoral neck, trochanter, and Ward's triangle for all subjects, a nd with the femoral neck and trochanter of women not on HRT. Men with palat al tori had lower levels of salivary cortisol in the evening. Conclusions. This study documented the high prevalence of mandibular and pa latal tori in a group of 230 elderly, community-dwelling subjects. Women no t on HRT and all subjects taken as a group with mandibular tori had higher BMD. The presence of tori at young adulthood may be a marker of higher BMD in the future and of a lower risk for developing osteoporosis.