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Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology, September 2003, p. 897-902, Vol. 10, No. 5
1071-412X/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/CDLI.10.5.897-902.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Periodontitis Is Associated with a Low Concentration of Vitamin C in Plasma

Pirkko J. Pussinen,1* Tiina Laatikainen,2 Georg Alfthan,3 Sirkka Asikainen,4 and Pekka Jousilahti2

Institute of Dentistry, University of Helsinki, and Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Helsinki University Central Hospital,1 Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion,2 Biomarker Laboratory, Department of Health and Functional Ability, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland,3 Adhesion Center/Oral Microbiology, Department of Odontology, Faculty of Medicine and Odontology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden4

Received 24 February 2003/ Returned for modification 15 April 2003/ Accepted 11 June 2003

This study aimed to clarify how concentrations of vitamin C in plasma relate to the serology of periodontitis. The random sample used comprised 431 men, 194 from Finland and 237 from Russia. The plasma vitamin C concentration was determined by o-phtaldialdehyde-fluorometry, and serum immunoglobulin G antibodies to Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis were determined by a multiserotype enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mean plasma vitamin C concentration was higher (P < 0.001) in Finnish subjects (mean ± standard deviation, 4.5 ± 2.8 mg/liter) than in Russian subjects (1.4 ± 1.8 mg/liter). Mean antibody levels to both A. actinomycetemcomitans (4.7 ± 3.6 versus 5.2 ± 3.1 ELISA units [P = 0.05]) and P. gingivalis (5.7 ± 2.5 versus 7.6 ± 2.9 ELISA units [P < 0.001]) were lower in Finnish men than in Russian men. In the combined Finnish and Russian population, the antibody levels to P. gingivalis were negatively correlated with vitamin C concentrations (r = -0.22; P < 0.001); this association remained statistically significant (P = 0.010) in a linear regression model after adjustment for confounding factors. The proportion of P. gingivalis-seropositive subjects decreased with increasing vitamin C concentrations (P for trend, <0.01), but no trend was seen among A. actinomycetemcomitans-seropositive subjects. In conclusion, P. gingivalis infection is associated with low concentrations of vitamin C in plasma, which may increase colonization of P. gingivalis or disturb the healing of the infected periodontium.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Institute of Dentistry, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 63, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland. Phone: 358-9-191 25211. Fax: 358-9-191 25194. E-mail: pirkko.pussinen{at}helsinki.fi.

Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology, September 2003, p. 897-902, Vol. 10, No. 5
1071-412X/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/CDLI.10.5.897-902.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.





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