Association between obesity and periodontal risk indicators in adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
In a cross-sectional study design we test the hypothesis of whether obesity in adolescence is associated with periodontal risk indicators or disease.


METHODS
Obese adolescents (n=52) and normal weight subjects (n=52) with a mean age of 14.5 years were clinically examined with respect to dental plaque, gingival inflammation, periodontal pockets and incipient alveolar bone loss. The subjects answered a questionnaire concerning medical conditions, oral hygiene habits, smoking habits and sociodemographic background. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated and adjusted for age and gender (BMI-SDS). Samples of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) were analyzed for the levels of adiponectin, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), interleukin-1β (IL-β), interleukin-8 (IL-8) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α).


RESULTS
Obese subjects exhibited more gingival inflammation (P<0.001) and more pathological periodontal pockets (>4 mm) (P<0.001) but not incipient alveolar bone loss compared with the normal weight subjects. Higher levels of IL-1β (P<0.001) and IL-8 (P=0.002) were measured in GCF from obese subjects compared with the controls. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, adjusted BMI-SDS (P=0.03; Odds Ratio [OR]=1.87) was significantly associated with the occurrence of pathological periodontal pockets.


CONCLUSIONS
The study demonstrates an association between obesity and periodontal risk indicators in adolescents that in the long term may lead to oral morbidity. This result further strengthens obesity's negative effect on teenagers' periodontal health and highlights the importance of a close collaboration between dentists and pediatricians in the prevention and treatment of obesity.
Modéer
Thomas
T
Department of Dental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden. thomas.modeer@ki.se
Blomberg
Cecilia
C
Wondimu
Biniyam
B
Lindberg
Tülay Yucel
TY
Marcus
Claude
C
D052242:Adiponectin / Q000032:analysis; D000293:Adolescent; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000453:epidemiology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005883:Gingival Crevicular Fluid / Q000276:immunology; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000032:analysis; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000032:analysis; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000032:analysis; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000453:epidemiology; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000032:analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis
C499918:ADIPOQ protein, human; D052242:Adiponectin; C508606:CXCL8 protein, human; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D016209:Interleukin-8; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; C051321:SERPINE1 protein, human; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha