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Gingivitis associated with obesity, insulin resistance in children
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Children with overweight or obesity and lower levels of insulin resistance are more likely to develop gingivitis, a precursor to chronic periodontal disease, according to recent findings.
Patricia Lucia Casavalle, MD, of the department of pediatrics, Nutrition Clinic, Hospital de Clínicas “José de San Martín” in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and colleagues analyzed data from 90 healthy white children referred to an outpatient clinic in Argentina for assessment and treatment of obesity (50 girls; 70 with obesity; 20 with overweight). Researchers assessed gingival inflammation using the gingival inflammatory index, serum lipid profile and insulin resistance using the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR).
Within the cohort, 86 children (69 with obesity; 17 with overweight) had a gingival inflammatory index score greater than 1 (scores between 1.1 and 3 indicate moderate to severe gingivitis); 43 children (37 with obesity; six with overweight) had a HOMA-IR score of at least 3; 41 children had both gingivitis and a HOMA-IR score of at least 3 (37 with obesity; four with overweight).
Researchers observed an association between positive gingival inflammatory index score and children with overweight and obesity (P = .03) and an association between positive gingival inflammatory index score, insulin resistance and excess body fat (P = .008).
“Given the evidence of the association of [insulin resistance] with the development of [periodontal disease], our results reinforce the importance of addressing [insulin resistance] early in life and of being alert to gingival inflammation in children/adolescents with excess body fat,” the researchers wrote. “Oral health status should also be considered in the assessment of obesity and its comorbidities, principally because oral alterations are amenable to primary care prevention and treatment measures. Thus, [obese] children require a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach that should include both medical and dental health care professionals.” – by Regina Schaffer
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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