Association between serum lipid levels and periodontal infection.

OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to investigate the association between serum lipids and periodontal infection and the role of serum lipids in the association between body weight and periodontal infection. MATERIAL AND METHODS The Health 2000 Health Examination Survey, which included 8028 subjects aged 30 or older living in continental Finland. This study was based on a subpopulation of dentate, non-diabetic subjects who had never smoked and were aged under 50 years (n=1297). Periodontal infection was defined as the presence of teeth with deepened periodontal pockets. Serum levels of triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol were analysed enzymatically. RESULTS We found no consistent association between serum lipid levels and periodontal infection among normoweight subjects. There was an association of high serum triglycerides and low HDL with periodontal infection among obese subjects. The association between body mass index and periodontal infection was not essentially affected by serum lipids. CONCLUSION In this study population serum lipid levels were not associated with periodontal infection among normoweight subjects. Obese subjects with a high serum triglyceride level and/or a low HDL-cholesterol level could be at higher risk of periodontal infection. Our results suggest that the association between body weight and periodontal infection was mainly mediated through a mechanism other than serum lipids.