Association of dietary zinc consumption with periodontitis in diabetes mellitus patients: A cross-sectional study of national health and nutrition examination surveys database (2009-2014)

Background/purpose: Periodontitis is an independent risk factor for diabetes mellitus (DM), and DM patients had an increased risk in susceptibility to periodontitis. And serum zinc (Zn) levels were low in patients with periodontitis combined with DM. Herein, this study aimed to explore the association between dietary Zn intake and the risk of periodontitis in DM patients, in order to provide some scientific references for the prevention and treatment for periodontitis clinically. Materials and methods: Demographic and clinical data of DM patients were extracted from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) database in 2009-2014 in this cross-sectional study. Weighted univariate logistic regression and backward regression analyses were used for covariates screening. Weighted univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to explore the association between Zn and periodontitis with odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup analyses of age and gender were also performed. Results: Of the eligible participants, 1281 had moderate or severe periodontitis. After adjusting for the covariates, we found that comparing to DM patients who had not reach the recommended Zn intake level, those who reached had low odds for periodontitis [OR = 0.76, 95% CI: (0.58-0.99)]. In patients who aged >= 65 years old [OR = 0.59, 95% CI: (0.36-0.97)] and were female [OR = 0.71, 95% CI: (0.51-0.99)], reaching the recommended level of Zn intake was related to low odds of periodontitis. Conclusion: Sufficient dietary Zn intake antagonized the risk of periodontitis, which may provide some references for diet management in DM patients to reduce the risk of periodontitis.