Effects of periodontitis and periodontal treatment on systemic inflammatory markers and metabolic profile in obese and non-obese rats

Background Little is known about a synergistic effect of periodontitis and obesity on systemic biomarkers and a possible effect periodontal treatment may exert. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of periodontitis and periodontal treatment on systemic inflammation and metabolic profile in obese and non-obese rats. Methods Sixty male Wistar rats were randomly divided in six groups differentiated by diet and periodontal status: no periodontitis (G1 and G4), untreated ligature-induced periodontitis (G2 and G5), and treated ligature-induced periodontitis (G3 and G6). Groups G4, G5, and G6 were exposed to cafeteria diet to induce obesity. Periodontitis was induced by silk ligatures over 4 weeks (G2, G3, G5, and G6). Rats in G3 and G6 received scaling and root planing and were followed for additional 4 weeks. After sacrifice, serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17a, tumor necrosis factor alfa (TNF-alpha), glucose, triglycerides, and total cholesterol (TC) were compared between groups. Results CRP was significantly higher in obese rats with than without periodontitis (G5 = 10.15 versus G4 = 4.47 mu g/L, P = 0.01). No beneficial effects of periodontal treatment were observed for CRP levels, IL-6, IL-1 beta, IL-17a, and TNF-alpha, glucose and triglycerides. Treated periodontitis (G6) exhibited significantly lower TC than the periodontitis group (G5) in obese rats. Conclusion Periodontitis increased serum CRP in obese rats, indicating a synergistic role of periodontitis in the systemic inflammatory burden triggered by obesity. The treatment of induced periodontitis reduced TC levels in obese rats.