Vitamin D Levels Linked to Periodontitis and Tooth Loss in Older Irish Adults, Study Reveals

A cross-sectional study involving a diverse group of older men and women revealed that concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) were associated with both periodontal disease and the likelihood of tooth loss, independent of other risk factors.

Periodontitis, a serious gum infection that damages soft tissue and can destroy the bone that supports teeth, is common among older adults. It is often exacerbated by a variety of factors, including poor oral hygiene, smoking, and systemic health issues. However, the study sheds light on the role of vitamin D, a nutrient crucial for bone health and immune function.

In the study, Lewis Winning, Dublin Dental University Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Republic of Ireland, and colleagues aimed to examine the relationship between 25(OH)D levels and periodontitis and tooth loss in older adults.

For this purpose, 2,346 adults participated in a comprehensive dental examination as part of the health assessment for The Irish Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Analysis of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels was conducted on frozen, non-fasting total plasma samples using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The study employed multiple logistic and multinomial logistic regression to explore the relationships between 25(OH)D concentrations, periodontitis, and tooth loss while adjusting for various potential confounding factors.

Based on the study, the researchers revealed the following findings:

• The mean age of participants was 65·3 years, and 55·3 % of the group were female.
• Based on the quintile of 25(OH)D concentration, participants in the lowest versus highest quintile had an OR of 1·57 of having periodontitis in the fully adjusted model.
• For tooth loss, participants in the lowest v. highest quintile of 25(OH)D had a RRR of 1·55 to have 1–19 teeth and a RRR of 1·96 to be edentulous, relative to those with ≥ 20 teeth in the fully adjusted models.

The cross-sectional study of older men and women in Ireland found an association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and periodontitis and tooth loss.

"These results are particularly significant, considering the high rates of vitamin D deficiency among older adults in the country. Future longitudinal studies should focus on exploring the potential causality and mechanisms involved," the researchers wrote.

"Furthermore, since vitamin D supplementation generally provides health benefits with a low risk of toxicity or side effects, clinical trials are needed to determine whether vitamin D supplementation can effectively prevent periodontitis and tooth loss in the elderly population in Ireland," they concluded.

Reference:

Winning L, Scarlett S, Crowe M, O’Sullivan M, Kenny RA, O’Connell B. Vitamin D, periodontitis and tooth loss in older Irish adults. British Journal of Nutrition. Published online 2024:1-9. doi:10.1017/S000711452400148X