Periodontal diseasePrevention

There have been two small randomized controlled trials of vitamin D and calcium supplementation and risk of Periodontal disease (PD).  

In one study, 11 of the 82 subjects (13%) taking supplements and 17 of the 63 subjects (27%) taking placebo lost one or more teeth (OR = 0.4; 95% CI: 0.2 to 0.9): “During the 2-year follow-up period, 31 of the 77 subjects (40%) with total calcium intake of at least 1000 mg per day lost one or more teeth compared with 40 of the 68 subjects (59%) who consumed less (OR = 0.5; 95% CI: 0.2 to 0.9)1”.

A recent study comparing those with daily calcium and vitamin D intakes of 1769 mg (95% confidence interval: 1606-1933) and 1049 IU (781-1317) in the taker group, and 642 mg (505-779) and 156 IU (117-195) in the non-taker group, respectively found about a 15-20% difference in PD parameters at baseline, month 6, and month 122.  Since both vitamin D and calcium were used, it is difficult to distinguish between the effects of the two supplements.  

However, based on the mechanisms identified whereby vitamin D could prevent PD, it seems very likely that higher serum 25(OH)D levels would significantly reduce the risk of PD.

Page last edited: 03 May 2011

References

  1. Krall, E. A. Wehler, C. Garcia, R. I. Harris, S. S. Dawson-Hughes, B. Calcium and vitamin D supplements reduce tooth loss in the elderly. Am J Med. 2001 Oct 15; 111 (6): 452-6.
  2. Garcia, M. N. Hildebolt, C. F. Miley, D. D. Dixon, D. A. Couture, R. A. Anderson Spearie, C. L. Langenwalter, E. M. Shannon, W. D. Deych, E. Mueller, C. Civitelli, R. One-year Effects of Vitamin D and Calcium Supplementation on Chronic Periodontitis. J Periodontol. 2010 Sep 1;