Cross-sectional study of vitamin D and calcium supplementation effects on chronic periodontitis

• Published in: Journal of periodontology (1970) Vol. 80; no. 9; p. 1433
• Main Authors: Miley, D Douglas, Garcia, M Nathalia, Hildebolt, Charles F, Shannon, William D, Couture, Rex A, Anderson Spearie, Catherine L, Dixon, Debra A, Langenwalter, Eric M, Mueller, Cheryl, Civitelli, Roberto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.09.2009
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alveolar Bone Loss - classification; Alveolar Bone Loss - prevention & control; Alveolar Process - pathology; Calcium, Dietary - therapeutic use; Chronic Periodontitis - classification; Chronic Periodontitis - prevention & control; Cohort Studies; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dietary Supplements; Female; Furcation Defects - classification; Furcation Defects - prevention & control; Gingiva - pathology; Gingival Hemorrhage - classification; Gingival Hemorrhage - prevention & control; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Periodontal Attachment Loss - classification; Periodontal Attachment Loss - prevention & control; Periodontal Index; Periodontal Pocket - classification; Periodontal Pocket - prevention & control; Radiography, Bitewing; Tooth Cervix - pathology; Vitamin D - therapeutic use; Vitamins - therapeutic use
• ISSN: 0022-3492
• DOI: 10.1902/jop.2009.090077

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. 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. 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). 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.