Functional tooth number in the posterior region associated serum ucOC levels

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate serum undercarboxylated osteocalcin (ucOC) levels in partially edentulous patients scheduled to receive implant treatment and determine the association between ucOC levels, vegetable intake, vitamin K, dietary fiber intake, and functional tooth number in the posterior region (p-FTN). Methods A total of 46 patients (20 male and 26 female, 61.9 ± 12.7 years old) were included. The association among serum ucOC levels, vegetable intake, vitamin K and dietary fiber intake was assessed using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient and binary logistic regression analysis. Results In total, 35% of patients (16/46 subjects) showed an abnormally high ucOC level (≧ 4.5 ng/mL). p-FTN showed a weak positive correlation with vegetable intake, vitamin K and dietary fiber intake (r = 0.28, 0.21, and 0.14, respectively) and a significant negative correlation with ucOC levels (r = − 0.51). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that p-FTN as well as vitamin K intake showed a significant negative association with serum ucOC levels. Conclusions More than one-third of patients showed abnormally high ucOC levels. p-FTN showed a negative association with serum ucOC levels, which indicated the possibility that oral status affected bone quality.