Abstract:
Aims: To assess the impact of periodontal treatment on systemic inflammation in
type 2 diabetes.
Materials and Methods: Adults with type 2 diabetes (n = 83) and without diabetes
(controls, n = 75) were recruited, and participants with periodontitis received periodontal
treatment and 12 months’ follow-up. Biomarkers for periodontal inflammation
(gingival crevicular fluid interleukin-6, tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β,
interferon-γ, matrix metalloproteinase-8, matrix metalloproteinase-9, adiponectin)
and serum markers of inflammation and diabetes control (glycated haemoglobin, high
sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β,
interferon-γ, leptin, adiponectin) were measured. Structural equation modelling was
used to evaluate periodontal treatment effects on oral and systemic inflammation.
Results: Periodontal treatment resulted in significant improvements in clinical status
and reductions in gingival crevicular fluid biomarkers from baseline to month 12.
Structural equation modelling identified that, at baseline, individuals with diabetes
and periodontitis had significantly higher systemic inflammation than non-diabetic
controls with periodontitis (Δ = 0.20, p = .002), with no significant differences between
groups for oral inflammation. There was a greater reduction in systemic
inflammation following periodontal treatment in individuals with diabetes and periodontitis
compared to those with periodontitis but not diabetes (Δ = −0.25, p = .01).
Conclusions: Diabetes and periodontitis together appear to increase systemic inflammation,
with evidence of reductions following periodontal treatment.
