Article
With great enthusiasm I read the article published by Devan Raindi on ‘Nutrition and Periodontal Disease’ (Dent Update 2016; 43: 66–72). The work of the author is commendable. It would be appropriate to add here that among the nutritional deficiencies the most commonly encountered deficiencies include the vitamin A, B-complex and vitamin D. Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a major problem in many developing countries which include India.1 It is generally associated with a decrease in the intake of this vitamin in the diet and also due to infectious diseases like measles, respiratory tract infection and diarrhoea that are highly prevalent.2
Vitamin C deficiency has been seen more in Indian men than in women and increases with age, use of tobacco and in the presence of noncommunicable disease.3 Severe Vitamin C deficiency causes scurvy. The common features of this include bright red, boggy gingiva that bleeds easily on gentle provocation and loosened teeth. The deficiency of this nutrient is known to alter the immune response and will also be detrimental on the cellular products such as oxygen radicals.4
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