Cross-sectional study of vitamin D and calcium supplementation effects on chronic periodontitis.
BACKGROUND
A low dietary intake of vitamin D and calcium hastens bone loss and osteoporosis. Because vitamin D metabolites may also alter the inflammatory response and have antimicrobial effects, we studied whether the use of vitamin D and calcium supplements affects periodontal disease status.


METHODS
A cohort of 51 subjects receiving periodontal maintenance therapy was recruited from two dental clinics; 23 were taking vitamin D (>or=400 IU/day) and calcium (>or=1,000 mg/day) supplementation, and 28 were not taking such supplementation. All subjects had at least two interproximal sites with >or=3 mm clinical attachment loss. Daily calcium and vitamin D intake (from food and supplements) were estimated by nutritional analysis. The following clinical parameters of periodontal disease were recorded for the mandibular posterior teeth: gingival index, probing depth, cemento-enamel junction-gingival margin distance (attachment loss), bleeding on probing, and furcation involvement. Posterior photostimulable-phosphor bitewing radiographs were taken to determine cemento-enamel junction-alveolar crest distances (alveolar crest height loss). Data were analyzed with a repeated-measures multivariate analysis of variance.


RESULTS
Compared to subjects who did not take vitamin D and calcium supplementation, supplement takers had shallower probing depths, fewer bleeding sites, lower gingival index values, fewer furcation involvements, less attachment loss, and less alveolar crest height loss. The repeated-measures analysis indicated that collectively these differences were borderline significant (P = 0.08).


CONCLUSIONS
In these subjects receiving periodontal maintenance therapy, there was a trend for better periodontal health with vitamin D and calcium supplementation. More expanded longitudinal studies are required to determine the potential of this relationship.
Miley
D Douglas
DD
Graduate Periodontics, Saint Louis University Center for Advanced Dental Education, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA. mileydd@slu.edu
Garcia
M Nathalia
MN
Hildebolt
Charles F
CF
Shannon
William D
WD
Couture
Rex A
RA
Anderson Spearie
Catherine L
CL
Dixon
Debra A
DA
Langenwalter
Eric M
EM
Mueller
Cheryl
C
Civitelli
Roberto
R
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000145:classification / Q000517:prevention & control; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000473:pathology; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000145:classification / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D017823:Furcation Defects / Q000145:classification / Q000517:prevention & control; D005881:Gingiva / Q000473:pathology; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000145:classification / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000145:classification / Q000517:prevention & control; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000145:classification / Q000517:prevention & control; D016300:Radiography, Bitewing; D019237:Tooth Cervix / Q000473:pathology; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D014815:Vitamins; D014807:Vitamin D