Vitamin C in plasma and leucocytes in relation to periodontitis

• Published in: Journal of clinical periodontology 2012-10, Vol.39 (10), p.905-912
• Main Authors: Kuzmanova, Denica, Jansen, Ineke D. C., Schoenmaker, Ton, Nazmi, Kamran, Teeuw, Wijnand J., Bizzarro, Sergio, Loos, Bruno G., Velden, Ubele
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Ascorbic Acid - blood; Biological and medical sciences; Case-Control Studies; Cell Count; Dentistry; Diet Records; Facial bones, jaws, teeth, parodontium: diseases, semeiology; Female; Humans; Inflammatory diseases; leucocytes; Leukocytes; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - cytology; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - immunology; Male; Matched-Pair Analysis; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neutrophils - cytology; Neutrophils - immunology; Non tumoral diseases; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Periodontal Index; Periodontal Pocket - blood; Periodontal Pocket - pathology; periodontitis; Periodontitis - blood; Periodontitis - immunology; Periodontitis - pathology; Plasma; Reference Values; Vitamin C
• ISSN: 0303-6979; 1600-051X
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-051X.2012.01927.x

Aim To test the hypothesis that vitamin C concentrations in plasma, polymorphonuclear neutrophilic leucocytes (PMNs) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are lower in periodontitis patients compared with healthy controls. Methods Twenty‐one untreated periodontal patients and 21 healthy controls matched for age, gender, race and smoking habits were selected. Dietary vitamin C intake was assessed by a self‐administered dietary record. Fasting blood samples were obtained and analysed for vitamin C concentrations in plasma, PMNs and PBMCs by means of high‐pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results Plasma vitamin C was lower in periodontitis patients compared with controls (8.3 and 11.3 mg/l, respectively, p = 0.03). Only in the control group a positive correlation was present between vitamin C intake and plasma values. No differences could be assessed between patients and controls regarding vitamin C dietary intake and levels in PMNs and PBMCs. In the patient group, pocket depth appeared to be negatively associated with the vitamin C concentration in PMNs. Conclusion Although the relationship between low plasma vitamin C levels and periodontitis is clear, the disease cannot be explained by insufficient vitamin C storage capacity of leucocytes; the question remains through which mechanism low plasma vitamin C levels are related to periodontitis.