Antioxidants and periodontitis in 60-70-year-old men.
OBJECTIVE
The aim was to investigate the association between periodontal health and the serum levels of various antioxidants including carotenoids, retinol and vitamin E in a homogenous group of Western European men.


METHODS
A representative sample of 1258 men aged 60-70 years, drawn from the population of Northern Ireland, was examined between 2001 and 2003. Each participant had six or more teeth, completed a questionnaire and underwent a clinical periodontal examination. Serum lipid-soluble antioxidant levels were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection. Multivariable analysis was carried out using logistic regression with adjustment for possible confounders. Models were constructed using two measures of periodontal status (low- and high-threshold periodontitis) as dependent variables and the fifths of each antioxidant as a predictor variable.


RESULTS
The levels of alpha- and beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin were highly significantly lower in the men with low-threshold periodontitis (p<0.001). These carotenoids were also significantly lower in high-threshold periodontitis. There were no significant differences in the levels of lutein, lycopene, alpha- and gamma-tocopherol or retinol in relation to periodontitis. In fully adjusted models, there was an inverse relationship between a number of carotenoids (alpha- and beta-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin) and low-threshold periodontitis. beta-Carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin were the only antioxidants that were associated with an increased risk of high-threshold severe periodontitis. The adjusted odds ratio for high-threshold periodontitis in the lowest fifth relative to the highest fifth of beta-cryptoxanthin was 4.02 (p=0.003).


CONCLUSIONS
It is concluded that low serum levels of a number of carotenoids, in particular beta-cryptoxanthin and beta-carotene, were associated with an increased prevalence of periodontitis in this homogenous group of 60-70-year-old Western European men.
Linden
Gerard J
GJ
Centre for Public Health, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK. g.linden@qub.ac.uk
McClean
Kathy M
KM
Woodside
Jayne V
JV
Patterson
Chris C
CC
Evans
Alun
A
Young
Ian S
IS
Kee
Frank
F
D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D065366:Cryptoxanthins; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D014975:Lutein / Q000097:blood; D000077276:Lycopene; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009660:Northern Ireland; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000097:blood; D012923:Social Class; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood; D014815:Vitamins / Q000097:blood; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000097:blood; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000097:blood; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000097:blood; D024503:beta-Tocopherol / Q000097:blood
D000975:Antioxidants; D065366:Cryptoxanthins; D014815:Vitamins; D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D019207:beta Carotene; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D002338:Carotenoids; C041635:alpha-carotene; D024503:beta-Tocopherol; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol; D000077276:Lycopene; D014975:Lutein