Relationship between periodontitis and hepatic abnormalities in young adults.
OBJECTIVE
Obesity has been implicated as a risk factor for periodontitis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In NAFLD, elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is associated with obesity. Although a possible interrelationship between liver function and periodontitis has been reported among the middle-aged population, the correlation in young adults is little known. This study was designed to investigate the relationship between ALT and the presence of periodontitis in university students in Japan.


METHODS
Medical and oral health data were collected in a cross-sectional examination conducted by the Health Service Center of Okayama University. Systemically healthy, non-smoking students aged 18 and 19 years old (n = 2225) were included. The protocol of the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was applied. Subjects with probing pocket depth >or= 4 mm were defined as having periodontitis. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the association between ALT, body mass index and periodontitis.


RESULTS
The number of subjects with periodontitis was 104 (4.7%). In males, having periodontitis was significantly associated with an increased level of ALT (>or= 41 IU/l) in logistic regression analysis (adjusted odds ratio 2.3; 95% confidence interval 1.0-5.2; p < 0.05). However, there was no significant association between periodontitis and ALT in female students.


CONCLUSIONS
Elevated ALT could be a potential risk indicator for periodontitis among young males. Monitoring hepatic abnormalities to prevent periodontitis must be better understood, even in the young adult population.
Furuta
Michiko
M
Department of Preventive Dentistry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kita-ku, Okayama, Japan.
Ekuni
Daisuke
D
Yamamoto
Tatsuo
T
Irie
Koichiro
K
Koyama
Reiko
R
Sanbe
Toshihiro
T
Yamanaka
Reiko
R
Morita
Manabu
M
Kuroki
Kiyomi
K
Tobe
Kazuo
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000453:epidemiology; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D006454:Hemoglobins; D002784:Cholesterol; D000410:Alanine Transaminase