Exploring the association between vitamin C intake and gingival bleeding tendency in healthy, non‑deficient young adults

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between reported vitamin C intake and gingival bleeding severity. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 336 participants were screened, and 262 (118 females, 144 males) were eligible. Vitamin C intake was derived from the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). The body mass index (BMI), plaque index (PI), bleeding on marginal probing (BOMP), and bleeding on pocket probing (BOPP) were scored. Means and standard deviations (SD) were calculated overall and by sex. Spearman's correlations assessed links between vitamin C intake and clinical variables. Sex differences were analyzed using Fisher's exact test and the Mann-Whitney U test. Generalized regression models evaluated relationships between BOMP/BOPP and vitamin C intake, sex, age, and PI. RESULTS: , and mean PI of 0.98. Average daily vitamin C intake was 108 mg (SD = 53), ranging from 19 to 425 mg. Mean BOMP and BOPP scores were 0.38 and 0.52, respectively. Regression models revealed no significant associations between vitamin C intake and BOMP or BOPP. However, PI was positively associated with both bleeding indices, while age was negatively associated. CONCLUSION: In this non‑deficient young adult population, vitamin C intake was not significantly associated with gingival bleeding after adjusting for covariates. Gingival bleeding was positively associated with PI and negatively with age.