Influence of Vitamin D Concentration and Glycaemic Control on the Severity of Periodontitis in Cameroonian Type 2 Diabetics: A Cross‐Sectional Study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the influence of vitamin D and glycaemic control on the severity of periodontitis in Cameroonian type 2 diabetics (T2D) and to identify the determinants of severe periodontitis (SP). METHODS: Vitamin D concentration and blood glucose control were determined by measuring serum levels of 25(OH)D and HbA1c. Periodontal examination was conducted. Fisher's exact test was used to compare proportions and Mann Whitney's test to compare medians. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine influencing factors on the prevalence of SP. RESULTS: 82 T2D patients were recruited. The median age of participants was 60 (15) years, and 54.9% of them had a glycated hemoglobin level ≥ 7%. T2D patients with SP had significantly lower median serum 25(OH)D levels than those without SP (20.5 (7.7) ng/mL versus 25.2 (8.8) ng/mL, p = 0.028). After logistic regression, only poor glycaemic control and age were significantly associated with the severity of periodontitis (OR: 6.81 [2.07-22.35] p = 0.002; OR: 1.07 [1.01-1.12] p = 0.013), respectively. CONCLUSION: Our study highlights the negative impact of poor glycaemic control and advanced age on the periodontium. The role of vitamin D on the severity of periodontitis still needs to be defined more precisely in future studies.