Vitamin D status and periodontal disease among pregnant women

J Periodontol. 2011 Feb;82(2):195-200. doi: 10.1902/jop.2010.100384. Epub 2010 Sep 1.

Abstract

Background: Maternal periodontal disease is found in < or = 40% of pregnant women and is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Vitamin D deficiency may play a role in periodontal disease and tooth loss, and insufficient vitamin D status is common among pregnant women. The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between maternal vitamin D status and periodontal disease.

Methods: A case-control study was conducted. Cases were defined as pregnant women with clinical moderate to severe periodontal disease; controls were pregnant women who were periodontally healthy. Maternal data were chart abstracted and serum was collected between 14 and 26 weeks of gestation. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Median serum 25(OH)D levels and prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency (defined as <75 nmol/l) were compared between cases and controls. The odds ratio and 95% confidence interval for moderate to severe periodontal disease among women with vitamin D insufficiency was calculated using multivariable logistic regression, adjusting for maternal race, season of blood draw, and other potential confounders.

Results: A total of 117 cases were compared to 118 controls. Cases had lower median 25(OH)D levels than controls (59 versus 100 nmol/l; P <0.001) and were more likely to have vitamin D insufficiency (65% versus 29%; P <0.001). The adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for moderate to severe periodontal disease among women with vitamin D insufficiency was 2.1 (0.99 to 4.5).

Conclusions: Vitamin D insufficiency (serum 25[OH]D <75 nmol/l) is associated with maternal periodontal disease during pregnancy. Vitamin D supplementation represents a potential therapeutic strategy to improve maternal oral health.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Black or African American
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
  • Periodontal Diseases / blood
  • Periodontal Diseases / complications*
  • Periodontal Diseases / ethnology
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications / blood*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Reference Values
  • Vitamin D / analogs & derivatives*
  • Vitamin D / blood
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / blood
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / complications*
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / ethnology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Vitamin D
  • 25-hydroxyvitamin D