title: Low vitamin D status strongly associated with periodontitis in Puerto Rican adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Periodontitis and vitamin D deficiency are both highly prevalent in Puerto Rico. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the association between vitamin D levels and periodontal disease in Puerto Rican adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sex-, age-, and BMI-matched case-control, cross-sectional study was conducted on 24 cases of moderate/severe periodontitis and 24 periodontally healthy controls aged 35 to 64 years. Each participant completed a socio-demographic questionnaire, underwent a full-mouth periodontal examination and provided blood sample to measure serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25 (OH) D) levels to assess vitamin D status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 19 matched case-control pairs (28 females, 10 males) completed the study. Mean serum 25 (OH) D levels were significantly lower in cases (18.5 ± 4.6 ng/ml) than in controls (24.2 ± 7.1 ng/ml; p = 0.006). Lower odds of periodontal disease were observed per unit of 25 (OH) D level (OR 0.885; 95 % CI 0.785, 0.997; p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lower serum vitamin D levels are significantly associated with periodontitis in Puerto Rican adults.
authors: Postdoctoral Master of Science in Clinical and Translational Research, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, PO Box 365067, San Juan, 00936, PR, Puerto Rico.
authors: Orlando J
authors: OJ
authors: Abreu
authors: College of Dentistry, Division of Periodontology, The Ohio State University, 305 W. 12th Avenue, Columbus, 43210, OH, USA.
authors: Dimitris N
authors: DN
authors: Tatakis
authors: School of Dental Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, PO Box 365067, San Juan, 00936, PR, Puerto Rico.
authors: Augusto R
authors: AR
authors: Elias-Boneta
authors: School of Dental Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, PO Box 365067, San Juan, 00936, PR, Puerto Rico.
authors: Lydia
authors: L
authors: López Del Valle
authors: School of Dental Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, PO Box 365067, San Juan, 00936, PR, Puerto Rico.
authors: Rafael
authors: R
authors: Hernandez
authors: School of Dental Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, PO Box 365067, San Juan, 00936, PR, Puerto Rico.
authors: Maria S
authors: MS
authors: Pousa
authors: Graduate School of Public Health, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, PO Box 365067, San Juan, 00936, PR, Puerto Rico. cristina.palacios@upr.edu.|Nutrition Program, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, PO Box 365067, San Juan, 00936, PR, Puerto Rico. cristina.palacios@upr.edu.
authors: Cristina
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9437-0376
authors: C
authors: Palacios
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000150:complications*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011647:Puerto Rico / Q000453:epidemiology; D014807:Vitamin D; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D
keywords: Hispanic Americans; Periodontitis; Puerto Rico; Vitamin D