Salivary IL-6 and IL-10 levels in subjects with obesity and gingivitis.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association between cytokines IL-6 and IL-10 in saliva, obesity and periodontal disease.

METHODS

The study was carried out in 40 subjects: 20 obese subjects with gingivitis and 20 non-obese subjects with gingivitis (controls). Periodontal parameters such as gingival index (GI) and plaque index (PI) of subjects were recorded. Saliva samples were used for measuring IL-6 and IL-10 levels by ELISA method.

RESULTS

Saliva IL-6 levels were significantly higher in obese subjects than those of non-obese subjects (P= 0.002). When total groups were evaluated, negative significant correlation between GI and salivary IL-10 levels (r= -0.452, P= 0.003) and positive correlations between salivary IL-6 level and body mass index (BMI) (r= 0.369, P= 0.019) were found. There was a negative correlation between the GI and salivary IL-10 levels in obese subjects (r= -0.548, P= 0.012). Also there was a positive correlation between the salivary level of IL-6 and IL-10 in obese subjects (r= 0.594, P= 0.006).

CONCLUSIONS

Obesity and adipose tissues can affect periodontal health by altering the levels of IL-6 and IL-10. IL-6 in saliva clearly increased in subjects with obesity compared to subjects without obesity. Also negative correlations between saliva IL-10 levels and GI were found in the total group and obese subjects.