vitamin-b-12 and Gingival-Diseases

Biochemical indices of AA clearly showed that the young men in this study were brought into various states of AA depletion and repletion according to their dietary AA intakes. While previous studies have postulated that supplemental intakes of AA may adversely affect body status of vitamins B6 and B12, we found no changes in the B vitamin status of the young men receiving varying AA intakes. Moderate AA supplementation (605 mg/day) showed no antagonistic effect on markers of vitamins B6 and B12. Blood markers of fat-soluble vitamins A and E and iron status were not affected by AA intakes. The propensity of the gingiva to become inflamed or bleed on probing was reduced after normal (65 mg/day) AA intakes as compared to deficient (5 mg/day) intakes and upon supplementary (605 mg/day) AA intakes as compared to normal intakes. The results suggest that AA status may influence early stages of gingival inflammation and crevicular bleeding, and warrant further study of the relationship between AA and periodontal health.

Topics: Adult; Ascorbic Acid; Ascorbic Acid Deficiency; Gingival Diseases; Humans; Iron; Male; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Periodontal Diseases; Pyridoxine; Vitamin A; Vitamin B 12; Vitamin E

The objective of this article is to familiarize the dentist with clinical signs and laboratory methods used in diagnosing nutritional deficiencies, and to indicate which laboratory methods may be useful to the clinician in cases of suspected nutritional deficiency. It should be noted that the suggested laboratory methods were selected on the basis of their applicability for the clinical situation as well as their reliability as indicators of nutritional status. Therefore these suggested methods of choice may not in every instance be the most accurate of all indicators of nutritional status for a particular nutrient. The dentist who wishes to utilize one of the laboratory methods has a number of options. He can take the appropriate sample in his office, or refer the patient directly to a clinical laboratory for the simpler analyses, or refer his patient to a physician for appropriate metabolic testing. The first option may be more appropriate for the dentist practicing in areas where a clinical laboratory is not within reasonable distance. In this instance the dentist should contact the laboratory for specific information, such as sample volume and special instructions for taking, handling, and shipping the sample. The second option is available to the dentist practicing in an urban area where clinical laboratory facilities are readily available. Finally, the dentist should work in conjunction with a physician when complex metabolic testing is required.

Topics: Anthropometry; Ascorbic Acid; Blood Proteins; Calcium; Deficiency Diseases; Gingival Diseases; Humans; Iron; Lip Diseases; Medical History Taking; Mouth Diseases; Mouth Mucosa; Riboflavin; Thiamine; Tongue Diseases; Vitamin A; Vitamin B 12; Vitamin D; Vitamin E