title: Vitamin C in plasma and leucocytes in relation to periodontitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the hypothesis that vitamin C concentrations in plasma, polymorphonuclear neutrophilic leucocytes (PMNs) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are lower in periodontitis patients compared with healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one untreated periodontal patients and 21 healthy controls matched for age, gender, race and smoking habits were selected. Dietary vitamin C intake was assessed by a self-administered dietary record. Fasting blood samples were obtained and analysed for vitamin C concentrations in plasma, PMNs and PBMCs by means of high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma vitamin C was lower in periodontitis patients compared with controls (8.3 and 11.3 mg/l, respectively, p = 0.03). Only in the control group a positive correlation was present between vitamin C intake and plasma values. No differences could be assessed between patients and controls regarding vitamin C dietary intake and levels in PMNs and PBMCs. In the patient group, pocket depth appeared to be negatively associated with the vitamin C concentration in PMNs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the relationship between low plasma vitamin C levels and periodontitis is clear, the disease cannot be explained by insufficient vitamin C storage capacity of leucocytes; the question remains through which mechanism low plasma vitamin C levels are related to periodontitis.
authors: Department of Periodontology and Oral Biochemistry, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Denica
authors: D
authors: Kuzmanova
authors: Ineke D C
authors: ID
authors: Jansen
authors: Ton
authors: T
authors: Schoenmaker
authors: Kamran
authors: K
authors: Nazmi
authors: Wijnand J
authors: WJ
authors: Teeuw
authors: Sergio
authors: S
authors: Bizzarro
authors: Bruno G
authors: BG
authors: Loos
authors: Ubele
authors: U
authors: van der Velden
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002452:Cell Count; D015930:Diet Records; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D001205:Ascorbic Acid