The Effects of Obesity on Local and Circulating Levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α and Interleukin-6 in Patients with Chronic Periodontitis

Background and aims. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible effects of obesity on the local (salivary) and systemic TNF-α and IL-6 levels in patients with chronic periodontitis (CP).

Materials and methods. This study included 88 subjects assigned to four groups of 22 subjects each, as follows: group O+P+ (patients with obesity and CP), group O-P+ (patients with normal weight and CP), group O+P- (periodontally healthy patients with obesity), and the control group, group O-P- (periodontally healthy patients with normal weight). Serum and salivary samples were obtained a week before the recording of clinical periodontal parameters. Local and systemic TNF-α and IL-6 levels were determined biochemically.

Results. In serum and saliva, both TNF-α and IL-6 levels were the lowest in O-P- group (P < 0.05). The highest TNF-α and IL-6 levels were observed in O+P+ group, while only IL-6 levels were statistically significant (P < 0.05).

Conclusion. Obesity upregulated the salivary and serum levels of TNF-α and IL-6. In patients with periodontitis, who were also obese, the serum and saliva levels of IL-6 were significantly high. Obesity might play a destructive and provocative role in the pathogenesis of periodontitis by negatively affecting IL-6 levels.