Serum, saliva, and gingival crevicular fluid osteocalcin: their relation to periodontal status and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women.
BACKGROUND
Periodontitis and osteoporosis are characterized by the loss of bone mass. Osteocalcin levels have been postulated as a marker of inhibition of bone formation. The aim of the present study was to assess plasma, saliva, and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) levels of osteocalcin and correlate them with periodontitis and osteoporosis.


METHODS
Seventy-three postmenopausal women, over 35 years old, were recruited for the study. Serum, saliva, and GCF osteocalcin were measured. Vertebral bone mineral density was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Differences between groups were assessed by analysis of variance (ANOVA), chi-square test, and non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test.


RESULTS
Thirty-four (46.6%) were classified in the normal healthy bone group, 11 women (15.1%) in the osteopenic group, and 28 women (38.4%) in the osteoporotic group. No statistically significant differences between these densitometric groups were observed in probing depth (P = 0.24); clinical attachment level (P = 0.11); or mean osteocalcin concentrations in serum, saliva, and GCF. Twenty-seven (37.0%) of the women were classified without periodontitis (NPG) and 63.0% (N = 46) with periodontal disease (PG). There were no statistical differences in serum and saliva osteocalcin concentrations between these two groups. GCF osteocalcin concentrations were significantly higher in the PG women than in the NPG group (P = 0.008). Mean probing depth correlated significantly with GCF osteocalcin concentrations (r = 0.35; P = 0.002).


CONCLUSIONS
The results further support the concept that osteocalcin levels in GCF correlates with periodontal but not with osteoporosis status.
Bullon
Pedro
P
Periodontics Department, School of Dentistry, University of Seville, Spain.
Goberna
Berta
B
Guerrero
Juan M
JM
Segura
Juan J
JJ
Perez-Cano
Ramon
R
Martinez-Sahuquillo
Angel
A
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015519:Bone Density; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D005883:Gingival Crevicular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D017698:Postmenopause; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D013131:Spine / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D015675:Osteocalcin