Associations of dietary antioxidant intake with periodontal health among US adults: An exploratory mediation analysis via mitochondrial function

Abstract Aim To assess the relationship between dietary antioxidant intake and periodontal health in US adults and the potential role of mitochondrial function. Materials and Methods We performed a cross‐sectional study using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011–2014. Dietary antioxidant intake was evaluated using three diet‐related indices: dietary oxidative balance score (DOBS), dietary total antioxidant capacity (DTAC) of antioxidant vitamins and composite dietary antioxidant index (CDAI). Periodontal parameters included attachment loss (AL) and probing pocket depth (PPD). Mitochondrial dysfunction was assessed using the methylmalonic acid (MMA) level. Weighted multivariable linear regression analyses were employed to investigate the association between dietary antioxidant intake and periodontal status. Additionally, exploratory mediation analyses were conducted to determine the mediating effect of MMA on the association. Results Totally, 5520 participants were included in our study. Participants with higher DOBS and DTAC scores had lower mean AL/PPD and MMA values. CDAI was negatively associated with mean AL and PPD. Furthermore, MMA mediated 9.4% and 4.9% of the associations between DOBS and mean AL and mean PPD, respectively. MMA also accounted for 7.2% and 3.3% of the association between DTAC and mean AL and PPD, respectively. Conclusions The findings support that dietary antioxidant intake helps in improving periodontal health, possibly and partially by enhancing mitochondrial function.