RELATIONSHIP OF MINERAL STATUS AND INTAKE TO PERIODONTAL-DISEASE

A periodontal index (PI), based on visual and radiographic data, was used to evaluate the severity of periodontal disease in a group of 80 dental patients. The average PI was 3.1 .+-. 1.8 SD (0 = no detectable lesions; 8 = most severe lesions). The PI was directly related to patient age (r = 0.73; P < 0.01). The serum concentration of Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn and Zn was measured. Regression of PI on the serum constituents demonstrated that serum Cu was linearly related (r = 0.64; P. < 0.001) to the PI. The other serum parameters were not correlated to the PI. Dietary protein, Ca and vitamin A were slightly related to the PI, based on a 24-h dietary recall. Dietary trace elements were not related to the PI. The serum Cu concentration is related in some way to the severity of periodontal disease. The observation may be linked to the role of Cu in the inflammatory response since inflammation is a characteristic of periodontal disease.