A Lingual Vitamin C Test: XI. Relationship to Gingival Sulcus Depth

Summary: One hundred two subjects participated in an experiment in which vitamin C state was measured under fasting conditions by means of plasma ascorbic acid level and by lingual test technique. Sulcus depth was graded in millimeters in the twelve anterior teeth. The evidence suggests that there is a statistically significant relationship between vitamin C state and mean sulcus depth. In other words, the higher the plasma level and the shorter the lingual time, the smaller the sulcus depth.

Introduction

Previous reports in this series demonstrated the constancy and reproducibility of the lingual vitamin C test,^1,2 its relationship to plasma ascorbic acid level,³ intradermal time,⁴ and dietary intake of ascorbic acid,⁵ changes in the test scores following vitamin C supplementation,⁶ relationship of nonfasting serum cholesterol and nonfasting lingual time,⁷ vitamin C state in a dental prepayment program,⁸ and the correlation of vitamin C state with gingival health⁹ and clinical tooth mobility.¹⁰

The purpose of this report is to analyze the relationship of vitamin C state as measured by plasma ascorbic acid and the lingual vitamin C test versus gingival sulcus depth. Specifically, an attempt will be made to answer the following three questions:

1. Is there any correlation between age and sulcus depth?
2. What is the relationship of plasma ascorbic acid levels to sulcus depth?
3. Are there parallelisms between the tissue vitamin C state (as reflected by the lingual test scores) and sulcus depth?

Method of Investigation

One hundred two subjects participated in this experiment. Venous blood was drawn under fasting conditions. The plasma ascorbic acid level¹¹ was determined. Additionally, the lingual test was performed at the same time as previously described.¹ Sulcus depth was measured to the nearest millimeter on the distal, mesial, labial, and lingual sides of the twelve anterior teeth. The mean sulcus depth derived from these 48 measurements was expressed to the second decimal place.

Results

Question One: Figure 1 pictorially relates the age groups, shown on the abscissa, to the mean sulcus depth scores, described on the ordinate. It will be noted that there is no statistically significant correlation, as indicated by an r = +0.138 and P > 0.05.

Fig. 1 : The relationship between age, on the abscissa, and mean sulcus depth on the ordinate. There is no statistically significant relationship ( r = +0.138, P > 0.05)

 

Question Two: Figure 2 is designed to show the relationship between plasma vitamin C scores on the x-axis and mean sulcus depth values on the y-axis. It will be noted that, on a mean basis, sulcus depth decreases as plasma ascorbic acid levels rise. The statistical significance of this relationship is underlined by a correlation coefficient of -0.268 and a P < 0.01.

Fig. 2 : The correlation between plasma ascorbic acid level (on the x-axis) and mean sulcus depth (on the y-axis). There is a statistically significant relationship (r = -0.268, P < 0.01).

 

Question Three: Figure 3 shows the relationship between lingual time, shown on the horizontal axis, and mean sulcus depth, pictured on the vertical axis. Within the limits of this study, there is a statistically significant relationship (r = +0.257, P < 0.01) between the two variables. Thus, as lingual time rises (tissue vitamin C state is poorer), sulcus depth increases.

Fig. 3 : The relationship of lingual time, on the horizontal axis, and mean sulcus depth, on the vertical axis. There is a statistically significant (P < 0.01) positive correlation (r = +0.257).

 

Discussion

It was earlier shown that there was no relationship between age and gingival state⁹ and clinical tooth mobility.¹⁰ It is also clear from this report that there is no statistically significant correlation between age and sulcus depth (Tab. 1). Earlier publications disclosed a statistically significant correlation between plasma ascorbic acid level and gingival state,⁹ but no such correlation between plasma vitamin C level and clinical tooth mobility.¹⁰ The data in this report note a statistically significant correlation between plasma ascorbic acid level and sulcus depth (Tab. 1). Finally, earlier reports indicated a statistically significant correlation between lingual time and gingival state⁹ and clinical tooth mobility.¹⁰ The data here also demonstrate a statistically significant correlation between lingual tissue time and sulcus depth (Tab. 1).

 

Table 1: Relationship of oral parameters and vitamin C state 

	Gingival state	Clinical tooth mobility	Sulcus depth
Age  Plasma ascorbic acid Lingual time	P > 0.05 P < 0.05* P = 0.05*	P > 0.05 P > 0.05 P < 0.01*	P > 0.05 P < 0.01* P < 0.01*

* Statistically significant correlation coefficient 

 

References Cited:

1. Cheraskin, E. and Ringsdorf, W. M., Jr.: Internat. J. Vit. Res. 38, 114 (1968).
2. Cheraskin, E. and Ringsdorf, W. M., Jr.: Internat. J. Vit. Res. 38, 118 (1968).
3. Cheraskin, E. and Ringsdorf, W. M., Jr.: Internat. J. Vit. Res. 38, 120 (1968).
4. Cheraskin, E. and Ringsdorf, W. M., Jr.: Internat. J. Vit. Res. 38, 123 (1968).
5. Cheraskin, E. and Ringsdorf. W. M., Jr.: Internat. J. Vit. Res. 38, 254 (1968).
6. Cheraskin, E. and Ringsdorf, W. M., Jr.: Internat. J. Vit. Res. 38, 257 (1968).
7. Cheraskin, E. and Ringsdorf, W. M., Jr.: “A lingual vitamin C test: VII. Relationship of nonfasting serum cholesterol and vitamin C state.” Internat. J. Vit. Res. 38, 415 (1968).
8. Cheraskin, E. and Ringsdorf, W. M., Jr.: “A lingual vitamin C test: VIII. Vitamin C state in a dental prepayment program.” Internat. J. Vit. Res. 38, 421 (1968).
9. Cheraskin, E., Ringsdorf, W. M., Jr., Aspray, D. W., Michael, D., and Preskitt, D.: “A lingual vitamin C test: IX. Relationship to gingival state.” Internat. J. Vit. Res. 38, 424 (1968).
10. Cheraskin, E., Ringsdorf, W. M., Jr., Aspray, D. W., Michael, D., and Preskitt, D.: “A lingual vitamin C test: X. Relationship to tooth mobility.” Internat. J. Vit. Res. 38, 433 (1968).
11. Mindlin, R. L. and Butler, A. M.: J. Biol. Chem. 122, 673 (1938)