A periodontal index (PI), based on visual and radiographic data, was used to evaluate the severity of periodontal disease in a group of 80 dental patients. The average PI was 3.1 +/- 1.8 SD (0=no detectable lesions; 8=most severe lesions). The PI was directly related to patient age (r=0.73; P is less than 0.01). The serum concentration of calcium copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, and zinc was measured. Regression of PI on the serum constituents demonstrated that serum copper was linearly related (r-0.64; P is less than 0.001) to the PI. The other serum parameters were not correlated to the PI. Dietary protein, calcium, and vitamin A were slightly related to the PI, based on a 24-hr dietary recall. Dietary trace elements were not related to the PI. These results indicate that the serum copper concentration, in some way is related to the severity of periodontal disease. Possibly the observation is linked to the role of copper in the inflammatory response since inflammation is a characteristic of periodontal disease.

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