Is there any relation between serum cholesterol and gum disease?

What is it about?

Periodontal disease is a chronic infection involves the supporting tissue around the teeth and when remains untreated, tooth loss will be the result. Statins are lipid-lowering drugs with anabolic effects. This study sought to assess the association of hyperlipidemia and statin consumption with periodontal status. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 150 participants including 50 individuals with normal lipid profile (group C), 50 hyperlipidemic patients without drug therapy (group N) and 50 hyperlipidemic patients on drug therapy for a minimum of three months (group S). Periodontal parameters including plaque index (PI), clinical attachment level (CAL), bleeding on probing (BOP) and pocket depth (PD) were measured for all teeth except for the third molars. Serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), HDL, LDL and triglycerides (TGs) were measured. Hyperlipidemic patients showed higher values( worse condition) of periodontal parameters compared to the statin-treated and control groups.

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Why is it important?

Periodontal and cardiovascular diseases share some common underlying mechanisms. Hyperlipidemia is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.Lipid accumulation is responsible for the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, and the important role of hyperlipidemia in development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases.Elevated serum lipids can also trigger the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines.Cytokines may play a role in the pathogenesis of both periodontal disease and impaired lipid metabolism . In the current study, with regard to the common risk factors of hyperlipidemia and periodontal disease, strict criteria were applied to eliminate the confounding factors as much as possible.