Impact of dietary vitamin D on osseointegration in the ovariectomized rat
Gabriella Dvorak1, Alexander Fügl, Georg Watzek
1Department of Oral Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. gabriella.dvorak@meduniwien.ac.at
Aim:
Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in the population and associated with impaired peri-implant bone regeneration. Yet, there is a gap in understanding the impact of vitamin D supplementation on the process of osseointegration. In this study, the effect of vitamin D supplementation on peri-implant bone regeneration was investigated.
Methods:
Fifty ovariectomized Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups. The depletion group was fed a vitamin D-free diet for 8 weeks. The repletion group received vitamin D-free diet for 6 weeks, before animals were switched to standard diet containing 2400 IU/kg vitamin D. The control group was fed the standard diet. Two titanium mini-implants were placed in the tibia. All groups remained on their previous diet until sacrifice. Blood sample testing and histomorphometric analysis were performed.
Results:
Vitamin D depletion caused a significant reduction in 25-hydroxvitamin D in rat serum that returned to control levels in the repletion group. This vitamin deficiency was associated with a decrease in bone-to-implant contact in the cortical area, which was leveled to controls in the repletion group. No significant changes by vitamin D depletion were noticed in the medullar compartment. Moreover, also the peri-implant bone area and the mineral apposition rate remained unchanged upon vitamin D depletion.
Conclusion:
These results indicate that vitamin D deficiency has a negative impact on cortical peri-implant bone formation in ovariectomized rats, which can be compensated by vitamin D supplementation. This study provides first insight into the potential beneficial effect of vitamin D supplementation in implant dentistry.
