Lack of vitamin D3 and periodontitis may trigger Type 2 diabetes

Aleksandra Zuk, a PhD candidate in epidemiology at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, found increased odds of developing Type 2 diabetes among people with gum disease who are also lacking in vitamin D3.

'We know that vitamin D is not only helpful for bone health, but is also shown to have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects. Sufficient vitamin D levels can potentially decrease inflammation and affect oral microbes related to gum disease,' said Zuk, the lead author on the study and a trainee at the Population Health Analytics Laboratory.

The prevalence of pre-diabetes and Type 2 diabetes is rising, but the role of gum disease in the origin of the disease is still unclear. According to Zuk, it’s critical to explore the impact of novel risk factors associated with disease risk