Periodontitis is associated with aggravation of prediabetes in Zucker fatty rats.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Prediabetes is part of the natural history of type 2 diabetes. Few human studies have addressed the relationship between periodontitis and prediabetes. The Zucker fatty rat (ZFR) is a known model of prediabetes, characterized by hyperinsulinemia, dyslipidemia, and moderate hypertension. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether periodontitis affects the prediabetic state of ZFRs.

METHODS:

Male adult ZFRs (fa/fa; N = 24) and their lean littermates (+/fa; N = 24) were studied. Periodontitis was induced with ligatures in half of the ZFRs and lean rats, whereas the other half served as controls. After 4 weeks, body weight, food intake, glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, free fatty acids, cytokines, and alveolar bone loss were recorded.

RESULTS:

ZFRs with periodontitis presented increased glucose intolerance (P = 0.03) and a slight increase in fasting glucose from initial to final evaluation, as detected through paired analysis (P = 0.03). Among lean rats, those with periodontitis presented higher final glucose intolerance than those without periodontitis (P = 0.01). Furthermore, periodontitis in lean rats was associated with increased fasting glucose, insulin, and insulin resistance, as evaluated through paired analysis (P = 0.003, P = 0.008, and P = 0.001, respectively). Regarding alveolar bone analysis, ZFRs with periodontitis demonstrated significantly more bone loss compared to lean rats with periodontitis (P <0.001).

CONCLUSIONS:

Prediabetes worsened periodontitis, and periodontitis, in turn, was associated with deterioration of glucose metabolism in ZFRs, suggesting a progress toward diabetes. Furthermore, periodontitis also affected glucose regulation in lean rats.

• Authors: Carla C Pontes Andersen, Allan Flyvbjerg, Karsten Buschard, Palle Holmstrup
• Journal: Journal of periodontology (J Periodontol) Vol. 78 Issue 3 Pg. 559-65 (Mar 2007) ISSN: 0022-3492 [Print] United States
• PMID: 17335381 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Cytokines
• Fatty Acids, Nonesterified
• Glucose

Topics

• Alveolar Bone Loss (complications)
• Analysis of Variance
• Animals
• Body Weight
• Cytokines (biosynthesis)
• Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental (etiology)
• Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 (etiology)
• Fatty Acids, Nonesterified (blood)
• Glucose (metabolism)
• Glucose Tolerance Test
• Insulin Resistance
• Ligation
• Male
• Periodontitis (complications)
• Prediabetic State (complications)
• Rats
• Rats, Zucker
• Statistics, Nonparametric