Serum lipids modify periodontal infection - interleukin-6 association

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the systemic response against a local inflammatory process in periodontium is dependent on the individual's serum lipid composition.

This study was based on a subpopulation of the Health 2000 Survey that included 878 subjects who were aged between 45 and 64 years, dentate, non-diabetic and non-rheumatic. The inflammatory condition of periodontium was measured by means of the number of teeth with deepened (4 mm or deeper) periodontal pockets. Systemic inflammation was assessed by means of the serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). The association between an inflammatory condition in the periodontium and the systemic inflammatory response was analysed using linear regression models.

The number of teeth with deepened periodontal pockets was associated with elevated serum IL-6 levels among subjects with an unfavourable lipid composition (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ≥3.7 mmol/l or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol <1.3 mmol/l). There was no association between serum TNF-α levels and the number of teeth with deepened periodontal pockets in these data.

The systemic response against the inflammatory condition of periodontium varied between individuals. The variation appeared to be dependent on the serum lipid composition or related factors.