High-fat diet aggravates the liver disease caused by periodontitis in rats

Background Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease that causes periodontium and hepatic alterations. Liver disease is related to the intake of foods rich in fat and sugars (high-fat). The objective of this study was to evaluate whether a high-fat diet can aggravate the liver disease caused by ligature-induced periodontitis in rats. Methods Twenty-one female rats were divided into three groups (n = 7 in each group): control; periodontitis (periodontitis induced with ligature) and high-fat + periodontitis (received hypercaloric diet and induction of periodontitis). The rats were submitted to the analyses of the following periodontal parameters: gingival bleeding index (GBI), probing pocket depth (PPD), tooth mobility (TM), and alveolar bone height. In the hepatic tissue, the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), total cholesterol, and myeloperoxidase activity (MPO) were measured. Liver samples were also histopathologically evaluated. Finally, blood levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), glucose, total cholesterol, cholesterol high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and uric acid were measured. Results The high-fat + periodontitis group presented an increase in the steatosis score (P < 0.05) for the histopathologic evaluation, when compared with the periodontitis group. MDA, uric acid and ALT levels also increased, whereas GSH and HDL levels showed lower values. Conclusion A high-fat diet aggravates the liver disease caused by ligature-induced periodontitis in rats.