The role of obesity as a modifying factor in patients undergoing non-surgical periodontal therapy

Earlier studies have shown an association between obesity and periodontitis, which is mediated by cytokine production. The aim of this study is to assess the role of obesity as a modifying factor on periodontal clinical parameters and on circulating proinflammatory cytokine levels in subjects undergoing non-surgical periodontal treatment.

Twenty-seven obese subjects and 25 normal-weight subjects were enrolled in this study. Subjects in both groups had generalized chronic periodontitis. The periodontal parameters measured before and 3 months after non-surgical periodontal therapy were: visible plaque index, bleeding gingival index, bleeding on probing, probing depth, and clinical attachment level. In addition, subjects underwent anthropometric measurements and serum analyses of fasting glucose, glycated hemoglobin, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interferon-γ.

Periodontal therapy significantly decreased visible plaque index, bleeding gingival index, bleeding on probing, probing depth of 4 to 6 mm, probing depth ≥7 mm, clinical attachment level of 4 to 6 mm, and clinical attachment level ≥7 mm in both groups (P ≤0.05). Circulating proinflammatory cytokines significantly decreased in obese and normal-weight subjects after periodontal treatment (P ≤0.05). However, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α levels remained higher in obese subjects 3 months after treatment (P ≤0.05).

Obesity does not seem to play a negative role by interfering in the improvement of the periodontal clinical response or decreasing circulating proinflammatory cytokine levels after periodontal treatment.