Circulating vitamin C and D concentrations and risk of dental caries and periodontitis: A Mendelian randomization study

AIM: This Mendelian randomization (MR) study was performed to explore the causal relationship among circulating vitamin C and D levels, dental caries, and periodontitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MR analyses were conducted with the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method, weighted median, MR-Egger approaches, and MR-robust adjusted profile score method to assess the causal relationships between circulating vitamin C and D concentrations and dental caries, the number of remaining natural permanent teeth in the mouth (N teeth), and periodontitis. RESULTS: We found potential causal association of circulating vitamin D concentrations with N teeth (β = 0.085; 95% confidence interval: 0.019 to 0.150; p = .012) based on the IVW method. No significant causal relationship between circulating vitamin D levels and dental caries and periodontitis was observed. Similarly, no evidence supported a causal relationship between circulating vitamin C concentrations and the risk of dental caries, N teeth, and periodontitis. CONCLUSIONS: There is no obvious evidence suggesting a causal relationship among circulating vitamin D, dental caries, and periodontitis, drawing into question the mechanism for any association with N teeth. Additionally, there is insufficient power to detect small effects in vitamin C levels and caries and periodontitis.