Antioxidants and periodontitis in 60-70-year-old men.

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.

• Authors: Gerard J Linden, Kathy M McClean, Jayne V Woodside, Chris C Patterson, Alun Evans, Ian S Young, Frank Kee
• Journal: Journal of clinical periodontology (J Clin Periodontol) Vol. 36 Issue 10 Pg. 843-9 (Oct 2009) ISSN: 1600-051X [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 19703237 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antioxidants
• Cryptoxanthins
• Vitamins
• Xanthophylls
• Zeaxanthins
• beta Carotene
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin E
• Carotenoids
• alpha-carotene
• beta-Tocopherol
• alpha-Tocopherol
• Lycopene
• Lutein

Topics

• Aged
• Antioxidants (analysis)
• Body Mass Index
• Carotenoids (blood)
• Cohort Studies
• Cryptoxanthins
• Diabetes Complications (blood)
• Humans
• Lutein (blood)
• Lycopene
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Northern Ireland
• Periodontitis (blood)
• Prospective Studies
• Risk Factors
• Smoking (blood)
• Social Class
• Vitamin A (blood)
• Vitamin E (blood)
• Vitamins (blood)
• Xanthophylls (blood)
• Zeaxanthins
• alpha-Tocopherol (blood)
• beta Carotene (blood)
• beta-Tocopherol (blood)