Periodontal status and metabolic syndrome in middle-aged Japanese

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) increases the risk of various lifestyle-related diseases. Although some studies have reported a significant relationship between periodontal status and MetS, little information exists about the nature of the relationship between periodontal health status and MetS.

Comprehensive health examinations of 6,421 Japanese individuals (aged 34 to 77 years) were performed. Five components (obesity, high blood pressure, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, hypertriglyceridemia, and high plasma glucose) of MetS were evaluated, and individuals with ≥3 positive components were defined as having MetS. The periodontal parameters were periodontal probing depth (PD) and clinical attachment level (CAL), and each parameter was divided into three categories (none/mild: ≤3 mm; moderate: 4 to 5 mm; and severe: ≥6 mm).

When PD and CAL were analyzed separately in multivariate models, both parameters were significantly associated with MetS. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis using a combination of PD and CAL as an independent variable, individuals with severe PD and severe CAL or with moderate PD and moderate CAL had significantly higher odds ratios for MetS, but severe CAL without severe PD was not significantly associated with MetS.

The results of this study suggest that periodontal status, particularly in individuals suspected to have untreated periodontal infection indicated by ≥4 mm PD, is significantly associated with MetS.