title: Periodontitis is associated with a low concentration of vitamin C in plasma.
abstract: This study aimed to clarify how concentrations of vitamin C in plasma relate to the serology of periodontitis. The random sample used comprised 431 men, 194 from Finland and 237 from Russia. The plasma vitamin C concentration was determined by o-phtaldialdehyde-fluorometry, and serum immunoglobulin G antibodies to Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis were determined by a multiserotype enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mean plasma vitamin C concentration was higher (P < 0.001) in Finnish subjects (mean +/- standard deviation, 4.5 +/- 2.8 mg/liter) than in Russian subjects (1.4 +/- 1.8 mg/liter). Mean antibody levels to both A. actinomycetemcomitans (4.7 +/- 3.6 versus 5.2 +/- 3.1 ELISA units [P = 0.05]) and P. gingivalis (5.7 +/- 2.5 versus 7.6 +/- 2.9 ELISA units [P < 0.001]) were lower in Finnish men than in Russian men. In the combined Finnish and Russian population, the antibody levels to P. gingivalis were negatively correlated with vitamin C concentrations (r = -0.22; P < 0.001); this association remained statistically significant (P = 0.010) in a linear regression model after adjustment for confounding factors. The proportion of P. gingivalis-seropositive subjects decreased with increasing vitamin C concentrations (P for trend, <0.01), but no trend was seen among A. actinomycetemcomitans-seropositive subjects. In conclusion, P. gingivalis infection is associated with low concentrations of vitamin C in plasma, which may increase colonization of P. gingivalis or disturb the healing of the infected periodontium.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Dentistry, University of Helsinki, and Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Helsinki University Central Hospital Helsinki, Finland. pirkko.pussinen@helsinki.fi
authors.forename: Pirkko J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Pussinen
authors.forename: Tiina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Laatikainen
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alfthan
authors.forename: Sirkka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Asikainen
authors.forename: Pekka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jousilahti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016976:Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans / Q000276:immunology; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000276:immunology; D012426:Russia
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001205:Ascorbic Acid