New study explores links between obesity and periodontal disease

Researchers from the University at Buffalo in New York have revealed findings from a study that explored the links between obesity and periodontal disease which affects roughly half of all U.S. adults over 30 with Australia’s Adult Oral Health Tracker showing that almost 29% of Australian adults 15-and-over have periodontal pockets greater than 4mm.

Specifically, according to a report on Dental Tribune, the study sought increased understanding of the way in which chronic inflammatory bone-related diseases such as periodontal disease are influenced in their development by obesity.

According to the report, researchers found that “found that being overweight causes chronic inflammation, and this may trigger the development of cells that break down the bone responsible for holding the teeth in place.”

They arrived at these findings by examining how two groups of mice reacted to different diets – “the first group was fed a low-fat diet that derived 10% of energy from fat, whereas the second group followed a high-fat diet that drew 45% of energy from fat.”

The group fed a high-fat diet “experienced obesity, higher levels of inflammation and a greater increase of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in the bone marrow and spleen compared with the low-fat diet group” while “more alveolar bone and had an increased gene expression tied to osteoclast formation as well as significantly more osteoclasts, which break down bone tissue.”

In announcing the findings, Dr. Kyuhwan Kwack, who is a postdoctoral associate in the University of Buffalo Department of Oral Biology said:

“This research promotes the concept that MDSC expansion during obesity to become osteoclasts during periodontitis is tied to increased alveolar bone destruction. Taken together, this data supports the view that obesity raises the risk of periodontal bone loss.”

/ADA Public Release. View in full here.