Vitamin D Inhibits Gingivitis

Vitamin D Inhibits Gingivitis

BOSTON--Vitamin D may help prevent gingivitis due to itsanti-inflammatory properties, according to a study published in the AmericanJournal of Clinical Nutrition www.ajcn.org(82, 3:575-80, 2005).

Researchers from Boston University, Tufts University and Brigham and Women'sHospital used information from the Third National Health and NutritionExamination Survey to compare serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D[25(OH)D] with incidence of gingival inflammation. Analysis of data collectedfrom 6,700 individuals aged 13 to greater than 90 years who had never smoked,indicated subjects in the highest 25(OH)D quintile were 20 percent less likelyto bleed on gingival probing than subjects in the lowest 25(OH)D quintile. Theassociation did not change after adjustment for confounding factors includingage, sex, race-ethnicity, income, body mass index, diabetes, use of oralcontraceptives, hormone replacement therapy, intake of vitamin C, missing teeth,full crown coverage, presence of tartar and frequency of dental visits; and didnot differ between users and nonusers of vitamin and mineral supplements.

The researchers concluded the anti-inflammatory effects of vitamin D mayreduce susceptibility to gingival inflammation, and noted gingivitis may be auseful clinical model to evaluate vitamin D's anti-inflammatory capability.