Nutrition, Periodontal Health and Birth Outcomes: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Analysis of a Postpartum Case–Control Sample

Background and Objective: Maternal nutrition may influence periodontal inflammation and pregnancy outcomes, yet evidence regarding food-derived nutrient intake remains limited. This study characterized maternal dietary intake relative to pregnancy-specific reference values and explored associations with periodontal and obstetric outcomes. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional analysis of a previously established case–control study, postpartum women selected according to birth outcome underwent periodontal examination and completed the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults Food Frequency Questionnaire (DEGS-FFQ) 1–4 days after delivery. Periodontal examination included probing pocket depth, clinical attachment loss, bleeding on probing, and the gingival bleeding index (GBI). Exploratory associations between the nine prespecified nutrient intakes and BOP, GBI, and gestational age at delivery were assessed using Spearman rank correlations with 95% bias-corrected bootstrap confidence intervals. Results: The analytical sample comprised 48 women, including 15 with preterm birth; periodontal data were available for 44 participants. Reported food-derived intake was below the respective pregnancy-specific D-A-CH reference values in all participants for folate and iron, in 91.7% for iodine, 79.2% for dietary fiber, and 77.1% for niacin. Exploratory correlations between the nine prespecified nutrient intakes and BOP, GBI, or gestational age at delivery were generally small (ρ ranging from −0.092 to 0.241), and all 95% bias-corrected bootstrap confidence intervals included zero. Conclusions: Food-derived intake of several pregnancy-relevant nutrients was below reference values. Associations between individual nutrient intake and periodontal or obstetric outcomes were limited, with no clear evidence of associations. Given the exploratory design and small sample, these findings require cautious interpretation.