Serum Vitamin D level and its association with red blood cell indices in patients with periodontitis

BACKGROUND: Research of late has brought to light a connect between Vitamin D and anemia. The level of 25hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH) D) is decreased in periodontitis subjects as against subjects without periodontitis and this reduced level could be related to more risk for anemia in periodontitis patients. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the serum 25(OH) D levels and red blood cell indices in patients affected by generalized Stage III Grade B periodontitis and healthy controls and to assess the association between level of Vitamin D and red cell indices in periodontitis patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects were categorized into (i) case and (ii) control group of 30 each. Clinical parameters including oral hygiene index simplified, mean ratio of sites that bled on probing, gingival index, probing pocket depth, and the clinical attachment loss were assessed in both the groups. Subjects' blood samples (venous) were taken for the biochemical analysis. RESULTS: In contradiction to healthy subjects, periodontitis subjects had significantly diminished 25(OH) D levels, hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). 25(OH) D was moderately correlated with MCHC (r = 0.53) and it was statistically significant (P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Periodontitis impacts Vitamin D status which further causes anemia. It suggests that effective management of periodontitis can help maintain sufficient Vitamin D status and may be vital in preventing anemia.