The relationship between insulin resistance and periodontitis is not affected by Mediterranean diet in a Spanish population

- Role of the Mediterranean diet relation to insulin resistance of periodontitis patients is proposed.
- Several parameters related to insulin resistance have been determined in the present cross-sectional study, in order to elucidate some relationship with periodontitis.
- Searching a relationship between periodontitis and insulin resistance could help to explain the recently demonstrated epidemiological association between periodontitis and metabolic syndrome.

ObjetiveTo examine the insulin resistance measured by surrogate indices in subjects with and without periodontitis and to find out any correlation among dietary intake with insulin resistance.DesignFifty-five patients were recruited to participate in this cross-sectional study. Insulin resistance measured by the homoeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) and the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index moreover glycaemia, creatinine, uric acid, high density lipoproteins, low density lipoproteins, very low density lipoproteins and triglycerides among others. True periodontal disease was elucidated through the examination of probing pocket depth, clinical attachment level, recession of the gingival margin and gingival bleeding. The statistical analyses used were the student's T-test for independent variables, Kolmogorov-Smirnov if variations were homogeneous; if not, the Mann-Whitney U Test was applied instead. Correlations between variables were assessed using Pearson's correlation coefficients. True periodontal disease was confirmed through the greater values of probing pocket depth, clinical attachment level, gingival margin and gingival bleeding in the periodontitis group in comparison with non-periodontitis group.ResultsInsulin resistance was evidenced by the greater values of HOMA-IR as well as by the lower quantitative insulin sensitivity check index values in the periodontitis group. Fasting insulin, glucose, uric acid, creatinine, low density lipoproteins, triglycerides and very low density lipoprotein levels were significant higher in periodontitis group. Pearson's correlations did not show any association among diet data and insulin resistance parameters in periodontitis patients.ConclusionA putative systemic relationship between insulin resistance and periodontitis exists but it does not seem conceivable any effect of diet over such relationship.