In the multifactorial pathogenesis of periodontitis, there are still unknown factors influencing the outcome of the disease. An association between magnesium and periodontitis has been suggested by preliminary studies. However, relevant clinical data are lacking. We investigated the association between magnesium status and periodontal health in a population-based analysis. We conducted a cross-sectional epidemiological investigation involving 4290 subjects aged 20–80 yrs. We recorded periodontal risk factors and determined concentrations of serum magnesium and calcium, relating them to periodontal parameters. In a matched-pair study, 60 subjects using oral magnesium-containing drugs and 120 without were compared. In subjects aged 40 yrs and older, increased serum Mg/Ca was significantly associated with reduced probing depth (p < 0.001), less attachment loss (p = 0.006), and a higher number of remaining teeth (p = 0.005). Subjects taking Mg drugs showed less attachment loss (p < 0.01) and more remaining teeth than did their matched counterparts. These results suggest that nutritional magnesium supplementation may improve periodontal health.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Abbott RD, Ando F, Masaki KH, Tung KY, Rodriguez BL, Petrovitch H, et al. (2003). Dietary magnesium intake and the future risk of coronary heart disease (the Honolulu Heart Program). Am J Cardiol92:665–669.
2.
Albandar JM (2002). Global risk factors and risk indicators for periodontal diseases. Periodontol 200029:177–206.
3.
ATC Index (2003). WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, Oslo. http://www.whocc.no/atcddd/
4.
Bussiere FI, Gueux E, Rock E, Girardeau JP, Tridon A, Mazur A, et al. (2002a). Increased phagocytosis and production of reactive oxygen species by neutrophils during magnesium deficiency in rats and its inhibition by high magnesium concentrations. Br J Nutr87:107–113.
5.
Bussiere FI, Gueux E, Rock E, Mazur A, Rayssiguier Y (2002b). Protective effect of calcium deficiency on the inflammatory response in magnesium-deficient rats. Eur J Nutr41:197–202.
6.
Deas DE, Mackey SA, McDonell HT (2003). Systemic disease and periodontitis: manifestations of neutrophil dysfunction, Periodontol 200032:82–104.
7.
Dimai HP, Porta S, Wirnsberger G, Lindschinger M, Pamperl I, Dobnig H, et al. (1998). Daily oral magnesium supplementation suppresses bone turnover in young adult males. J Clin Endocrinol Metab83:2742–2748.
8.
Djurhuus MS (2001). New data on the mechanism of hypermagnesuria in type I diabetes mellitus. Magnes Res14:217–223.
9.
Dyer AR, Elliott P, Stamler J, Chan Q, Ueshima H, Zhou BF, INTERMAP Research Group (2003). Dietary intake in male and female smokers, ex-smokers, and never smokers: the INTERMAP study. J Hum Hypertens17:641–654.
10.
Genco RJ (1996). Current view of risk factors for periodontal diseases. J Periodontol67(Suppl):1041–1049.
11.
Gindler EM, King JD (1972). Rapid colorimetric determination of calcium in biologic fluids with methylthymol blue. Am J Clin Pathol58:376–382.
12.
Guerrero-Romero F, Rodriguez-Moran M (2002). Low serum magnesium levels and metabolic syndrome. Acta Diabetol39:209–213.
13.
Heitz-Mayfield LJ, Schatzle M, Löe H, Burgin W, Anerud A, Boysen H, et al. (2003). Clinical course of chronic periodontitis. II. Incidence, characteristics and time of occurrence of the initial periodontal lesion. J Clin Periodontol30:902–908.
14.
Hensel E, Gesch D, Biffar R, Bernhardt O, Kocher T, Splieth C, et al. (2003). Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP), a health survey in an east German region. Objectives and design of the oral health section. Quintessence Int34:370–378.
15.
Kleber BM, Fehlinger R (1989). Dental and periodontal disturbances due to magnesium deficit. Magnes Res2:235–237.
16.
Kuraner T, Beksac MS, Kayakirilmaz K, Caglayan F, Onderoglu LS, Ozgunes H (1991). Serum and parotid saliva testosterone, calcium, magnesium, and zinc levels in males, with and without periodontitis. Biol Trace Elem Res31:43–49.
17.
Laires MJ, Monteiro CP, Bicho M (2004). Role of cellular magnesium in health and human disease. Front Biosci9:262–276.
18.
Malpuech-Brugere C, Nowacki W, Daveau M, Gueux E, Linard C, Rock E, et al. (2000). Inflammatory response following acute magnesium deficiency in the rat. Biochem Biophys Acta1501:91–98.
19.
Meyle J, Heller W, Gotz H, Fuhrer G (1987). Plasma concentrations of calcium, magnesium, zink and copper in patients with marginal periodontitis [German]. Dtsch Zahnärztl Z42:474–479.
20.
Mooren FC, Golf SW, Volker K (2003). Effect of magnesium on granulocyte function and on the exercise induced inflammatory response. Magnes Res16:49–58.
21.
Rodriguez-Moran M, Guerrero-Romero F (2003). Oral magnesium supplementation improves insulin sensitivity and metabolic control in type 2 diabetic subjects: a randomized double- blind controlled trial. Diabetes Care26:1147–1152.
22.
Scannapieco FA, Bush RB, Paju S (2003). Associations between periodontal disease and risk for atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, and stroke. A systematic review. Ann Periodontol8:38–53.
23.
Schimatschek HF, Rempis R (2001). Prevalence of hypomagnesemia in an unselected German population of 16,000 individuals. Magnes Res14:283–290.
24.
Splieth C, Giesenberg J, Fanghanel J, Bernhardt O, Kocher T (2002). Periodontal attachment level of extractions presumably performed for periodontal reasons. J Clin Periodontol29:514–518.
25.
Stalnikowicz R (2003). The significance of routine serum magnesium determination in the ED. Am J Emerg Med21:444–447.
26.
Tiran A, Pieber T, Halwachs-Baumann G, Dobnig H, Grubelnig H, Wilders-Truschnig MM, et al. (1994). Automated determination of glycated hemoglobin: evaluation of five systems. J Clin Lab Anal8:128–134.
27.
Touyz RM (2004). Magnesium in clinical medicine. Front Biosci9:1278–1293.
28.
Tsai C, Hayes C, Taylor GW (2002). Glycemic control of type 2 diabetes and severe periodontal disease in the US adult population. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol30:182–192.
29.
Wactawski-Wende J (2001). Periodontal diseases and osteoporosis: association and mechanisms. Ann Periodontol6:197–208.
