Magritt Brustad

Background: Vitamin D is involved in the immune system by regulating inflammatory processes. Over the recent decades, there has been an increase in studies investigating the potential influence of vitamin D status on inflammatory diseases and conditions. However, research on the link between vitamin D and periodontitis remains scarce. Hence, we aimed to examine the relationship between serum 25(OH)D levels and periodontitis in an adult population in Northern Norway. Methods: The study was based on cross-sectional data from a population-based study: the seventh Tromsø study, conducted in 2015 – 2016. Eligible participants were adults ( ≥ 40 years old) who had both a valid periodontal diagnosis and data on serum 25(OH)D levels, giving a total study sample of n = 3,693 participants (51.4% women). Periodontitis was defined according to the 2017 AAP/EFP classification system. Two groups were compared: no-periodontitis/stage I periodontitis versus stages II-III/IV periodontitis. Using a bivariate logistic regression analysis, the association between these two groups and serum 25(OH)D was tested, controlling for age, sex, smoking, toothbrushing frequency, and socioeconomic status. Periodontal pockets of ≥ 5 mm and their association with serum 25(OH)D were also tested. Results: About 89% were classified as having periodontitis, and 51.6% had stages II–III/IV periodontitis. About 4% of the participants were at deficient levels of serum 25(OH)D (< 30 nmol/L). Levels of serum 25(OH)D of < 30 nmol/L were associated with periodontitis stage II-III/IV (odds ratio [OR] 1.53, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03–2.28). Stratified by when the season serum 25(OH)D was measured (March-September vs October-February), the summer strata was significantly associated with periodontitis II-III/IV (30–50 nmol/L = OR 1.31, 95% CI:1.05–1.63, p = 0.018). Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency were associated with having at least one periodontal pocket of ≥ 5 mm (< 30 nmol/L = 1.78, 95% CI:1.22–2.60, p = 0.003: 30–50 nmol/L = OR was 1.23, 95% CI:1.03–1.47, p = 0.020, respectively). Conclusion: In this Norwegian adult population, blood 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D] levels were associated to periodontitis stage II-III/IV and a periodontal pocket depth of ≥ 5 mm.

Background: Mycotoxins have been suggested to contribute to a spectrum of adverse health effects in humans, including at low concentrations. The recognition of these food contaminants being carcinogenic, as co-occurring rather than as singularly present, has emerged from recent research. The aim of this study was to assess the potential associations of single and multiple mycotoxin exposures with renal cell carcinoma risk in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort. Methods: Food questionnaire data from the EPIC cohort were matched to mycotoxin food occurrence data compiled by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) from European Member States to assess long-term dietary mycotoxin exposures, and to associate these with the risk of renal cell carcinoma (RCC, n = 911 cases) in 450,112 EPIC participants. Potential confounding factors were taken into account. Analyses were conducted using Cox’s proportional hazards regression models to compute hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) with mycotoxin exposures expressed as µg/kg body weight/day. Results: Demographic characteristics differed between the RCC cases and non-cases for body mass index, age, alcohol intake at recruitment, and other dietary factors. In addition, the mycotoxin exposure distributions showed that a large proportion of the EPIC population was exposed to some of the main mycotoxins present in European foods such as deoxynivalenol (DON) and derivatives, fumonisins, Fusarium toxins, Alternaria toxins, and total mycotoxins. Nevertheless, no statistically significant associations were observed between the studied mycotoxins and mycotoxin groups, and the risk of RCC development. Conclusions: These results show an absence of statistically significant associations between long-term dietary mycotoxin exposures and RCC risk. However, these results need to be validated in other cohorts and preferably using repeated dietary exposure measurements. In addition, more occurrence data of, e.g., citrinin and fumonisins in different food commodities and countries in the EFSA database are a prerequisite to establish a greater degree of certainty.

Background: Few population-based studies have assessed dietary behaviors in the rural multiethnic population of Northern Norway. The present study determined dietary patterns and investigated their association with Sami ethnicity, sociodemographic factors, and lifestyle factors in a multiethnic population in rural Northern Norway. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 4504 participants of the SAMINOR 2 Clinical Survey (2012–2014) aged 40–69 years. All participants completed a lifestyle and food frequency questionnaire. Dietary patterns were determined using principal component analysis. Associations between food patterns and ethnicity, sociodemographic factors, and lifestyle factors were examined by multiple linear regression. Results: Six dietary patterns were identified that accounted for 28% of the variability in food intake in the study sample: ‘processed meat/westernized’, ‘fish/traditional’, ‘fruit/vegetables’, ‘reindeer/traditional’, ‘bread and sandwich spreads’, and ‘sweets and bakery goods’. The ‘reindeer/traditional’ pattern was most common among the inland Sami population. The ‘fish/traditional’ pattern was most common among costal multiethnic Sami and least common among inland Sami and among women independent of ethnicity. The ‘fish/traditional’ pattern was also positively associated with older age, high education level, small household size, and smoking. Adherence to the ‘processed meat/westernized’ pattern was lower among inland Sami than inland/coastal non-Sami; no ethnic differences in adherence to this pattern were found between costal multiethnic Sami and inland/coastal non-Sami. Unhealthy lifestyle factors, like low physical activity level and smoking, and younger age were mainly associated with the ‘processed meat/westernized’ pattern, whereas socioeconomic factors like low education, low gross annual household income, and large household size were related to the ‘sweets and bakery goods’ pattern. Male gender, low education level, and smoking were associated with the ‘bread and sandwich spreads’ pattern. The ‘fruit/vegetables’ pattern was characterized by healthy dietary choices and a health-conscious lifestyle, and was more common in women with a high education level and income. Conclusions: Adherence to the six identified dietary patterns was characterized by different sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. Ethnicity, in combination with geographical region of residence, was associated with dietary behaviors. This study provides knowledge that will be useful in future studies on dietary patterns related to chronic diseases in the rural population of Northern Norway.

Objective: This study aims at presenting the feasibility of using the public oral health clinics in indigenous Sámi communities, as arena for a comprehensive data collection for population-based epidemiological oral health research among adults (age, 18–75 years) in a multi-ethnic setting. Material and methods: The study design was cross-sectional. The data collection was incorporated into the clinical procedure at six public dental clinics situated in the Administrative Area for the Sámi Language in Finnmark County, Northern Norway, during 2013–2014. Both clinical- and questionnaire-data were collected. The quality of clinical data was thoroughly calibrated and validated. Results: Altogether, 2235 people participated in the study gave a crude response rate at 88.7%. In the final data sample (n = 2034), 56.9% were female. We constructed three ethnic groups (Sámi, Mixed Sámi/Norwegian and Norwegian). Altogether, 67.7% reported Sámi or mixed Sámi ethnicity. The internal validity of the clinical data was found to be satisfactory when assessed by comprehensive quality procedure, calibration and reliability assessments. Conclusion: This study design and method assessments provide solid documentation that public dental clinics are suitable as arenas for data collection in epidemiological oral health studies in the Sámi population in this region.

Toxic elements emitted from the Pechenganickel complex on the Kola Peninsula have caused concern about potential effects on local wild food in the border regions between Norway, Finland and Russia. The aim of this study was to assess Ni, Cu, Co, As, Pb, Cd, and Hg concentrations in local wild foods from these border regions. During 2013–2014, we collected samples of different berry, mushroom, fish, and game species from sites at varying distances from the Ni-Cu smelter in all three border regions. Our results indicate that the Ni-Cu smelter is the main source of Ni, Co, and As in local wild foods, whereas the sources of Pb and Cd are more complex. We observed no consistent trends for Cu, one of the main toxic elements emitted by the Ni-Cu smelter; nor did we find any trend for Hg in wild food. Concentrations of all investigated toxic elements were highest in mushrooms, except for Hg, which was highest in fish. EU maximum levels of Pb, Cd, and Hg were exceeded in some samples, but most had levels considered safe for human consumption. No international thresholds exist for the other elements under study.

Den norske tannlegeforenings Tidende – Tannhelse i samisk befolkning i Finnmark

In post-war Norway, only the 1970 national census has recorded ethnicity information about the indigenous Sámi, however restricted to those living in selected areas in the north. In this study, we combine replies about Sámi ethnicity given by the same individuals in Norway’s 1970 census and in the population-based SAMINOR study in 2003–04, to compare self-reported Sámi ethnicity at two points in time that encompass a period when the effects of a long-standing assimilation policy gradually lost ground in favour of upcoming Sámi revitalization. We found self-reported Sámi ethnicity – measured as (1) Sámi as home language in each of three generations and (2) the respondent’s self-identification as Sámi – to have remained generally stable, but some changes were observed. We argue that the results reflect interplays between societal and individual factors. We conclude that any statistical study involving an indigenous people, when clarifying the ethnicity measures, should also address the issue of ethnic mobility.

Vitamin D er i vinden, og hos norske leger er det entusiasme å spore. Vitaminets vitenskapelige popularitet er også udiskutabel, med nærmere 60 000 treff på PubMed.