BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The relationship between Vitamin D (VD) and periodontitis in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) was unclear. This study was to investigate the relationship between VD and periodontitis in MetS patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study collected the data of 2165 MetS patients from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The weighted univariate and multivariable Logistic regression models were applied to identify covariates and evaluate the association between 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) [25(OH)D] + 25(OH)D and periodontitis in patients. Odds ratio (OR) [95% confidence interval (CI)] was effect size. Subgroup analysis was performed in people with or without diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and central obesity groups.

RESULTS

In the unadjusted model, compared with patients with 25(OH)D + 25(OH)D < 50 nmol/L, those with 25(OH)D + 25(OH)D ≥ 50 nmol/L might be associated with decreased risk of periodontitis in MetS patients (OR = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.57-0.85). After adjusting for confounders including age, gender, race, education, poverty income ratio (PIR), smoking, diabetes, VD intake and supplement and number of missing teeth, 25(OH)D + 25(OH)D ≥ 50 nmol/L was correlated with reduced risk of periodontitis in MetS patients (OR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.60-0.97). Subgroup analysis revealed that in patients with CVD (OR = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.37-0.98), dyslipidemia (OR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.57-0.97), and patients with central obesity (OR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.57-0.95), decreased risk of periodontitis was identified in 25(OH)D + 25(OH)D ≥ 50 nmol/L.

CONCLUSION

VD was associated with the risk of periodontitis in patients with MetS, which suggest the importance of VD supplement in patients with MetS and provide a reference for the management of periodontitis in patients with MetS.