VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Diabetes and chronic lung disease can be added to the growing list of systemic diseases and conditions associated with bacteria from infected gums, new studies from the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine have shown.
The findings from both studies were presented here today (March 13) at the combined meeting of the American Association of Dental Research and International Association of Dental Research.
To investigate the association of periodontal disease with diabetes, a research team headed by Sara G. Grossi, D.D.S., UB senior research scientist, concentrated on insulin resistance, a known precursor of active diabetes, in which cells do not absorb insulin from the blood stream.
As their study group, the researchers used 11,198 subjects from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) conducted from 1988-94, including all non-diabetic NHANES participants between the ages of 20 and 90 who had at least six natural teeth.
They assessed information on periodontal status, defined as degree of gum detachment from bone, along with fasting-insulin and fasting-glucose levels, which were combined to establish an index of insulin resistance. Persons with known diabetes or with a blood glucose level that reached diabetic levels were excluded from the analysis.
Analysis showed that the index of insulin resistance increased as severity of periodontal disease increased. The relationship was not affected by age, gender, body-mass index (a measure of obesity) or smoking. To clarify the relationship further, the researchers separated the study group into overweight versus non-overweight, using a body mass index of 27 as the dividing line. Weight is an independent risk factor for insulin resistance and diabetes.
Results showed that those with severe periodontal disease (gum
detachment), regardless of weight, have a higher index of insulin resistance
than those with little or no
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Contact: Lois Baker
ljbaker@buffalo.edu
716-645-2626
University at Buffalo
13-Mar-1999