(13-09-09) Antioxidants and periodontitis in 60-70-year-old men.

Linden GJ, McClean KM, Woodside JV, Patterson CC, Evans A, Young IS, Kee F.


Centre for Public Health, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK.
Linden GJ, McClean KM, Woodside JV, Patterson CC, Evans A, Young IS, Kee F. Antioxidants and periodontitis in 60-70-year-old men. J Clin Periodontol 2009; doi: 10.1111/j.1600-051X.2009.01468.x. Abstract Objective: The aim was to investigate the association between periodontal health and the serum levels of various antioxidants including carotenoids, retinol and vitamin E in a homogenous group of Western European men. Materials and Methods: A representative sample of 1258 men aged 60-70 years, drawn from the population of Northern Ireland, was examined between 2001 and 2003. Each participant had six or more teeth, completed a questionnaire and underwent a clinical periodontal examination. Serum lipid-soluble antioxidant levels were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection. Multivariable analysis was carried out using logistic regression with adjustment for possible confounders. Models were constructed using two measures of periodontal status (low- and high-threshold periodontitis) as dependent variables and the fifths of each antioxidant as a predictor variable. Results: The levels of alpha- and beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin were highly significantly lower in the men with low-threshold periodontitis (p<0.001). These carotenoids were also significantly lower in high-threshold periodontitis. There were no significant differences in the levels of lutein, lycopene, alpha- and gamma-tocopherol or retinol in relation to periodontitis. In fully adjusted models, there was an inverse relationship between a number of carotenoids (alpha- and beta-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin) and low-threshold periodontitis. beta-Carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin were the only antioxidants that were associated with an increased risk of high-threshold severe periodontitis. The adjusted odds ratio for high-threshold periodontitis in the lowest fifth relative to the highest fifth of beta-cryptoxanthin was 4.02 (p=0.003). Conclusion: It is concluded that low serum levels of a number of carotenoids, in particular beta-cryptoxanthin and beta-carotene, were associated with an increased prevalence of periodontitis in this homogenous group of 60-70-year-old Western European men.

Source: J Clin Periodontol. 2009 Aug 23

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