Iodine deficiency and its association with periodontitis: A randomized controlled triple-blinded clinical study.

Background: Numerous research studies have explored the impact of micronutrients, including dietary minerals such as iron, zinc, selenium, copper, and vitamins A, B complex, C, D, and E, on periodontitis. However, there is no literature investigating the role of iodine in periodontal health.

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the potential influence of iodine, a trace element, on periodontal health, an area that has not yet been researched.

Material and methods: The study recruited a total of 73 participants, including 33 periodontally healthy control subjects and 40 patients with stage III periodontitis. Iodine levels in urine samples were measured using a spectrophotometric method, and the results were expressed in μg/L.

Results: Lower iodine levels were observed in patients with periodontitis. Individuals with low iodine levels were found to be 1.04 times more likely to develop periodontitis than those with high iodine levels. The study found that if a person's urine iodine value is below 76.93 μg/L, the probability of having periodontitis is 72.5%; if it is above this value, the probability of not having periodontitis is 90.9%.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that urinary iodine levels could be a valuable metric for future research, as indicated by the variance in mean urinary iodide levels. Further extensive studies could establish urinary iodine levels as a useful biomarker for the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment plan of periodontitis.