10/18/2020
Vitamin D Deficiency is another "epidemic" in the US because most of us don't spend enough time outdoors. And when we do, most often we wear all sorts of sun protection. When we are exposed to the sun, our bodies naturally produce vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to dental implant failure, periodontal disease, and many other diseases. Many physicians now check vitamin D levels as part of routine evaluation. Ask your physician to evaluate your vitamin D levels to make sure this deficiency does not put you at risk.
Here's a summary of a recent article that was published lending further credibility to this issue
Association of Vitamin D in Patients With Periodontitis
Published in Clinical Dentistry
Journal Scan / Research · October 15, 2020
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This cross-sectional study investigated the association between serum vitamin D levels and periodontitis in patients with chronic periodontitis, coronary heart disease, and healthy controls (n=43). Patients in the chronic periodontitis and chronic periodontitis plus coronary heart disease groups had significantly lower mean vitamin D levels compared with the coronary heart disease and healthy groups. Vitamin D levels were positively correlated with the number of teeth present and negatively with C-reactive protein and increased levels of periodontal disease. The authors concluded that the presence of chronic periodontitis negatively influenced vitamin D levels.
Vitamin D has been shown to have a significant protective effect as a modulator of the inflammatory response in various systemic conditions such as coronary heart disease, endothelial dysfunction, cancer, and diabetes. Mounting evidence is revealing a similar protective effect of vitamin D on the periodontium. This study adds to the growing body of evidence supporting the hypothesis that reduced levels of vitamin D are associated with greater destruction of the periodontium in chronic periodontitis. Nonetheless, the cross-sectional nature of this study precludes it from claiming anything more than an association between vitamin D levels and periodontal health.
– Tapan N. Koticha, BDS, MDS
