Relationship of Bone Metabolism Biomarkers and Periodontal Disease: The Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) Study

Context: Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease of tooth-supporting tissue leading to bone destruction and tooth loss. Periodontitis affects almost 50% of adults greater than 30 years of age. Objective: This study evaluated the association between biomarkers linked to bone formation and resorption with the occurrence and progression of periodontal disease in older men (>= 65 y). Design: The Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) study is a prospective, observational study among men 65 years of age and older. Setting: This ancillary study, Oral and Skeletal Bone Loss in Older Men, was conducted at two of the six MrOS study sites (Birmingham, AL and Portland, OR). Patients: Patients underwent medical and dental evaluation. Diagnoses of periodontitis were based on clinical attachment loss, pocket depth, calculus, plaque, and bleeding on a random half-mouth. Bone metabolism biomarkers included serum levels of calcium, phosphate (Pi), alkaline phosphatase, albumin, carboxy-terminal collagen crosslinks (CTX), N-terminal propeptides of type I procollagen, isoform 5b of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, and urine alpha-carboxyterminal collagen crosslinks (alpha-CTX) and beta-CTX and serum levels of calciotropic hormones vitamin D (25(OH) D) and PTH. Main Outcome Measures: The aim of this study is to correlate bone metabolism biomarkers with prevalence and progression of periodontal disease in older men. Results: Patients with more severe periodontitis had significantly higher levels of PTH (P trend = .0004), whereas 25 (OH) D was lower (P trend = .001). In a subset of men reevaluated at a second dental visit, improvement of periodontitis was associated with lower alpha-CTX, beta-CTX, and CTX levels at baseline after adjusting for age, site, and body mass index. Conclusion: This study suggests that a distinct set of biomarkers of bone metabolism are associated with more severe periodontal disease (PTH, 25(OH) D) and periodontal progression (alpha-CTX, beta-CTX, and CTX) over time.