Assessment of Total Antioxidant Capacity and Malondialdehyde Levels in Obese Patients With Periodontitis

Background and objectives Obesity is increasingly recognized as a serious chronic health issue worldwide. Numerous studies have highlighted its association with periodontal disease. Both obesity and periodontal disease may be connected through oxidative stress. The purpose of this study is to determine whether periodontal problems are linked to obese people's greater vulnerability to oxidative stress. Methods A total of 120 individuals of both sexes (69 females and 51 males), with mean ages of 37.8 ± 9 years, were randomly assigned to one of three groups in a case-control study: 40 were in the control group, 40 were in the obese without periodontitis group, and 40 were in the obese with periodontitis group. The serum of the three groups was then evaluated for biochemical markers (total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA)) and a clinical periodontal parameter (clinical attachment level, CAL). Results The findings indicated that 30.7% of men and 41.6% of women participated in the study. Within each group, there was a significant difference (p < 0.001) in TAC and MDA levels between the obese and control groups, as well as between those with and without periodontitis. The obese group without periodontitis had a substantially larger mean waist circumference (93 ± 11.9) than the control group (86.0 ± 7.8), and the differences were statistically significant (p < 0.001). Conclusion Anthropometric and demographic measurements revealed no significant differences between obese individuals with periodontitis and those without it. Our results suggest that, in obese individuals, the onset of oxidative stress and reduced antioxidant capacity may act as a pathophysiological link to periodontitis.