T
The Daily Rant
Guest
Obesity can cost you your teeth
Thursday February 23 2006 00:00 IST
http://www.newindpress.com/Newsitem...&Title=Features+-+Health+&+Science&Topic=-162
WASHINGTON: People who moan and groan about their weight now have an
added reason for getting rid of their excess weight, for researchers
have found that obesity can also endanger your pearly whites, as it is
a significant predictor for periodontal disease.
Robert J Genco, vice provost at the University at Buffalo, who led the
research, said that the study also suggests that insulin resistance
mediates the relationship between obesity and periodontal disease.
The study found that the severity of periodontal attachment loss
increased proportionally with increasing insulin resistance. And in
addition, the number of teeth lost increased significantly with
increasing levels of insulin resistance.
Individuals in the highest insulin resistance category of the study
lost 1.1 more teeth compared to individuals in the lowest category.
"People who have a higher body mass index produce cytokines
(hormone-like proteins), that lead to systemic inflammation and insulin
resistance. We propose that chronic stimulation and secretion of
proinflammatory cytokines associated with periodontal infection also
occurs, contributing to insulin resistance, which may further
predispose to diabetes mellitus," he said.
Kenneth A. Krebs, DMD and AAP president, said that the research has
also revealed that the gum infections coupled with obesity may
contribute to type 2 diabetes.
"The presence of periodontal infection combined with obesity may
contribute to type 2 diabetes and its complications, such as coronary
heart disease," he said.
"Although further studies are needed, people should remember that
living a healthy lifestyle along with daily brushing and flossing and
visiting your oral health care provider is always in fashion," he
added.
The study is published in the current supplement to the Journal of
Periodontology.
Thursday February 23 2006 00:00 IST
http://www.newindpress.com/Newsitem...&Title=Features+-+Health+&+Science&Topic=-162
WASHINGTON: People who moan and groan about their weight now have an
added reason for getting rid of their excess weight, for researchers
have found that obesity can also endanger your pearly whites, as it is
a significant predictor for periodontal disease.
Robert J Genco, vice provost at the University at Buffalo, who led the
research, said that the study also suggests that insulin resistance
mediates the relationship between obesity and periodontal disease.
The study found that the severity of periodontal attachment loss
increased proportionally with increasing insulin resistance. And in
addition, the number of teeth lost increased significantly with
increasing levels of insulin resistance.
Individuals in the highest insulin resistance category of the study
lost 1.1 more teeth compared to individuals in the lowest category.
"People who have a higher body mass index produce cytokines
(hormone-like proteins), that lead to systemic inflammation and insulin
resistance. We propose that chronic stimulation and secretion of
proinflammatory cytokines associated with periodontal infection also
occurs, contributing to insulin resistance, which may further
predispose to diabetes mellitus," he said.
Kenneth A. Krebs, DMD and AAP president, said that the research has
also revealed that the gum infections coupled with obesity may
contribute to type 2 diabetes.
"The presence of periodontal infection combined with obesity may
contribute to type 2 diabetes and its complications, such as coronary
heart disease," he said.
"Although further studies are needed, people should remember that
living a healthy lifestyle along with daily brushing and flossing and
visiting your oral health care provider is always in fashion," he
added.
The study is published in the current supplement to the Journal of
Periodontology.