25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) Concentrations and Pathogenic Oral Bacteria in Postmenopausal Women in the Osteoporosis and Periodontal Study (OsteoPerio Study)

Background: Studies have found an association between 25(OH)D concentrations and periodontal disease (PD), which may be explained in part by vitamin D's antimicrobial properties. To our knowledge, no study has investigated the relationship between 25(OH)D and the prevalence of pathogenic oral bacteria, a putative cause of PD. Purpose: We examined the cross-sectional (1997-2000) relationship between plasma 25(OH)D concentrations and prevalence of pathogenic oral bacteria among postmenopausal women in the OsteoPerio ancillary study of the Buffalo center of the Women's Health Initiative. Methods: Subgingival plaque samples were assessed for the presence of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythensis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Prevotella intermedia and Campylobacter rectus. Plasma 25(OH)D concentrations were determined using chemiluminescence. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for prevalent bacteria by quintile (Q) of 25(OH)D concentration adjusting for body mass index as a potential confounder. Results: Of the 856 participants, 289 (34%) had inadequate (<50 nmol/L) 25(OH)D concentrations and 497 (58.1%) had at least one species of these oral bacteria. There was no association found between 25(OH)D concentrations and prevalence of pathogenic oral bacteria (OR (95% CI) for Q5 (high) vs. Q1 (low)= 0.95 (0.61-1.48); p for trend=0.50). This association was not modified by frequency of flossing, diabetes status, antibiotic use, smoking status or whole-mouth mean periodontal pocket depth. Conclusions: This observed lack of association may be due to the species of bacteria assessed, small effect size or a true absence of a relationship between 25(OH)D and pathogenic oral bacteria.