Nutrition, Periodontal Health and Birth Outcomes: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Analysis of a Postpartum Case-Control Sample

Background and Objective: Maternal nutrition may influence periodontal inflammation and pregnancy outcomes, yet evidence regarding food-derived nutrient intake remains limited. This study characterized maternal dietary intake relative to pregnancy-specific reference values and explored associations with periodontal and obstetric outcomes. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional analysis of a previously established case-control study, postpartum women selected according to birth outcome underwent periodontal examination and completed the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults Food Frequency Questionnaire (DEGS-FFQ) 1-4 days after delivery. Periodontal examination included probing pocket depth, clinical attachment loss, bleeding on probing, and the gingival bleeding index (GBI). Exploratory associations between the nine prespecified nutrient intakes and BOP, GBI, and gestational age at delivery were assessed using Spearman rank correlations with 95% bias-corrected bootstrap confidence intervals.