Written by Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS. In a study with 4708 subjects, higher vitamin E levels were associated with a better score in periodontitis.
Periodontitis is a bacterial infection of the mouth induced by chronic inflammatory disease, characterized by inflammation and both bone and ligament loss (1, 2). The CDC estimates that 47.2%, or 64.7 million American adults, have mild, moderate or severe periodontitis (3). Research has started to suggest that cell damage, called “oxidative stress”, is a major contributor to the onset of periodontitis (4).
Now new study (5) suggests that vitamin E may help promote dental health. In the study, researchers analyzed data on vitamin E blood levels and dental records for 4,708 subjects (2280 men, 2428 women) who participated in the 1999–2001 National Health and Nutrition Examination Study (6). Periodontal status was assessed with two measurements, pocket depth and clinical attachment loss which analyze gum, bone, and ligament health. These two measures were then used to calculate “Total Periodontitis Score” according to criteria set forth by the CDC and American Academy of Periodontology (7).
The researchers found decreased dental health in the lowest 25% of a type of vitamin E called alpha tocopherol (20.2 micromoles per liter) and the highest 25% levels of alpha tocopherol (48.2 micromol/L):
| Alpha-Topherol Levels (micromoles/Liter) | 20.2 | 48.2 | p value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical Attachment Loss (millimeters) | 1.07 | 0.96 (10.3% less) | < 0.001 |
| Probed Pocket Depth (millimeters) | 1.69 | 1.58 (6.3% less) | < 0.001 |
| Total Periodontitis Score | 1.65 | 1.0 (60.6% better score) | < 0.001 |
The mechanisms by which vitamin E may promote dental health “are not clear” but may lie in vitamin E’s ability to stop function of an enzyme called nitric oxide synthase, which may lead to decreased bone loss (8).
For the researches, “we found an inverse association between serum alpha tocopherol and clinical attachment, probed pocket depth, and Total Periodontitis Score” but admit that “Whether these findings can be extended to primary prevention for periodontitis warrants confirmation in other populations, such as those at risk of periodontitis and with low vitamin E status.”
Source: Zong, Geng, et al. “Serum α-tocopherol has a nonlinear inverse association with periodontitis among US adults.” The Journal of nutrition 145.5 (2015): 893-899.
© 2015 American Society for Nutrition.
Posted May 12, 2015.
Greg Arnold is a Chiropractic Physician practicing in Hauppauge, NY. You can contact Dr. Arnold directly by emailing him at PitchingDoc@msn.com or visiting his web site at www.PitchingDoc.com.
References:
- Pihlstrom BL, Michalowicz BS, Johnson NW. Periodontal diseases. Lancet 2005;366:1809–20.
- Eke PI, Dye BA, Wei L, Thornton-Evans GO, Genco RJ. Prevalence of periodontitis in adults in the United States: 2009 and 2010. J Dent Res 2012;91:914–20
- “CDC: Half of Americans Periodontal Disease” posted on the American Academy of Periodontology website
- Chapple IL, Matthews JB. The role of reactive oxygen and antioxidant species in periodontal tissue destruction. Periodontol 2000 2007;43:160–232
- Zong G. Serum α-Tocopherol Has a Nonlinear Inverse Association with Periodontitis among US Adults.J Nutr 2015 May;145(5):893-9. doi: 10.3945/jn.114.203703. Epub 2015 Feb 11
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics [Internet]. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey: Analytic guidelines, 1999–2010. Hyattsville (MD): US Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2013 [cited 2014 Jan 24
- Eke PI, Page RC, Wei L, Thornton-Evans G, Genco RJ. Update of the case definitions for population-based surveillance of periodontitis. J Periodontol 2012;83:1449–54
- Leita˜o RF, Ribeiro RA, Chaves HV, Rocha FA, Lima V, Brito GA. Nitric oxide synthase inhibition prevents alveolar bone resorption in experimental periodontitis in rats. J Periodontol 2005;76:956–63.
