Preterm Birth (PTB) and Low-Birth-Weight (LBW) in Relation to Oral Health and Vitamin D Deficiency

A study published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine suggests a correlation between preterm birth (PTB) and low-birth-weight (LBW) with poor oral health and vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women.

Introduction

Periodontal disease is one of the more common inflammatory diseases in the adult population, with an incidence varying from 5 to 30%. Initiated by bacterial biofilms, periodontal disease can cause the destruction of soft and hard periodontal tissues, consequently leading to tooth loss. The disease produces inflammatory mediators and microbial products that can enter the systemic circulation through the mouth and reach distant organs.

Vitamin D and Periodontal Disease

Vitamin D is a secosteroid that can be ascribed to steroid hormones if considering its biological effects on several tissues. Vitamin D might affect periodontal disease both through an effect on bone mineral density and through immunomodulatory effects.

The Study

A group of researchers conducted a study to investigate this correlation in a cohort of pregnant women over 20 weeks of gestation from the University Hospital "Maggiore della Carità", Novara, Italy. They assessed serum levels of vitamin D and oral health status through the following indexes:

• Oral Hygiene Index (OHI)
• Plaque Control Record (PCR)
• Gingival Bleeding Index (GBI)
• Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPTIN)

Moreover, they assessed the number of preterm birth (PTB) and low-birth-weight (LBW) among the newborns.

Results

The results of the study are as follows:

• Out of 121 pregnant women recruited, 72 were included.
• There was a statistically significant correlation between preterm and OHI > 3 and between LBW and OHI > 3 and CPITN = 3.
• Both pregnant women with vitamin D deficiency and preterm birth (PTB) and low-birth-weight (LBW) newborns were significantly correlated with poor levels of all oral health status indexes during pregnancy.
• Furthermore, these conditions (women with hypovitaminosis D and combination of preterm birth (PTB) and low-birth-weight (LBW)) were shown to be significantly correlated.

Conclusion

Thus, the researchers concluded that taken together, their findings reported a high prevalence of preterm birth (PTB) and low-birth-weight (LBW) with poor oral health and vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women.

Reference

Periodontal Disease and Vitamin D Deficiency in Pregnant Women: Which Correlation with Preterm and Low-Weight Birth? By Martina Ferrillo et al. published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine.

https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10194578