title: The association between hyperlipidemia and periodontal infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Periodontitis is a local chronic inflammatory condition of the supporting structures of the teeth resulting from a dental plaque biofilm attached to teeth surfaces. Recent studies have indicated that this oral disease may have effects on systemic health.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between periodontitis and hyperlipidemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  This case-control study was conducted in Iran during March 2011. In this case-control study, levels of serum lipids in 45 subjects with periodontitis were measured and compared with 45 age, gender and body mass index (BMI) matched controls. Data were analyzed using student t-test and chi-square test with P < 0.05 as the limit of significance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean values of total cholesterol (CHL) (periodontitis group = 218.11 ± 29.77, control group = 162.31 ± 48.24) and triglycerides (TG) (periodontitis group = 209.77 ± 44.30, control group = 125.60 ± 44.16) were significantly higher in the periodontitis group (P < 0.001). High-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels were higher in the case group, but this difference was not statistically significant. Frequency of pathological values of CHL and TG were significantly higher in cases compared with the controls (P = 0.002 and P = 0.015, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicates that hyperlipidemia may be associated with periodontal disease in healthy individuals; yet whether periodontitis causes an increase in levels of plasma lipids or whether hyperlipidemia is a risk factor for periodontal infection and cardiovascular disease, it needs further investigations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, School of Dentistry, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Golpasand Hagh
authors.affiliation: Department of Operative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Faramarz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zakavi
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hajizadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Arvand Branch, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Morteza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saleki
keywords: Cholesterol; Chronic Periodontitis; Hyperlipidemia; Triglycerides