Serum Nutrient Levels and Aging Effects on Periodontitis

Abstract

Periodontal disease damages tissues as a result of dysregulated host responses against the chronic bacterial biofilm insult and approximately 50% of US adults >30 years old exhibit periodontitis. The association of five blood nutrients and periodontitis were evaluated due to our previous findings regarding a potential protective effect for these nutrients in periodontal disease derived from the US population sampled as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999–2004). Data from over 15,000 subjects was analyzed for blood levels of cis-β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, folate, vitamin D, and vitamin E, linked with analysis of the presence and severity of periodontitis. Moderate/severe disease patients had lower cis-β-carotene levels across all racial/ethnic groups and these decreased levels in moderate/severe periodontitis were exacerbated with age. β-cryptoxanthin demonstrated lower levels in severe disease patients across the entire age range in all racial/ethnic groups. Folate differences were evident across the various age groups with consistently lower levels in periodontitis patients >30 years and most pronounced in females. Lower levels of vitamin D were consistently noted across the entire age range of patients with a greater difference seen in females with periodontitis. Finally, an analytical approach to identify interactions among these nutrients related to age and periodontitis showed interactions of vitamin D in females, and folate with race in the population. These findings suggest that improving specific nutrient intake leading to elevated blood levels of a combination of these protective factors may provide a novel strategy to affect the significant increase in periodontitis that occurs with aging.

The effect of the systemic folic acid intake as an adjunct to scaling and root planing on clinical parameters and homocysteine and C‐reactive protein levels in gingival crevicular fluid of periodontitis patients: A randomized placebo‐controlled clinical trial

“…The 2011–2014 US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data linked FA inadequacy to periodontal disease severity and suggested its use to reduce disease severity (Luo et al, 2018). Ebersole, Lambert, Bush, Huja, and Basu (2018) also recommended FA intake to prevent the increasing prevalence of periodontal diseases occurring with ageing.…”

Carotenoids and Periodontal Infection

“…Amengual et al, also reported that β-carotene reduced the adiposity of body, downsize of adipocytes and blood leptin levels using in vivo experiment [46]. Importantly, Ebersole et al, have shown that lower β-carotene levels in blood were found in moderate/severe periodontitis patients [40].…”

Could treating periodontitis prevent osteoporosis? An update of the last decade

“…There is in fact a significant association between age and the severity of periodontal disease. The deterioration of the immune system and the insufficiency of certain blood nutrients, such as cis-β-carotene folate and vitamin D, which are frequently observed in elderly, might be involved in the relationship between aging and periodontal disease 15,16 .…”

“…Smoking has been firmly associated independently with osteoporosis by a plethora of studies 16,17 . Baccaro LF.…”

“…Through its' crucial position in bone metabolism and antiinflammatory activity, vitamin D affects periodontal status as well. The maintenance of serum 25(OH)vitD levels within normal range modulates a patient's respond to periodontal treatment 16,31 . Although vitamin D supplementation is associated with decreasing severity of chronic periodontitis, further investigation is required to establish the vitamin's deficiency as an indisputable risk factor 32 .…”