Metabolic Syndrome and Periodontal Disease: An Overview for Physicians

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) (also known as insulin resistance syndrome, syndrome X) is a cluster of factors associated with increased risk of developing coronary heart disease or type 2 diabetes mellitus. Several studies in the past have reviewed an association between MetS and periodontitis. Periodontal disease is considered an infectious and chronic inflammatory disease, and it has been considered to be a potential risk in cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and diabetes, and has implications in adverse pregnancy outcomes, osteoporosis, and so on. These systemic disorders have been documented as capable of affecting the periodontium or treatment of periodontal disease. Oral inflammatory lesions have different basic mechanisms concerning the possible association with systemic diseases. They concern local spread, metastatic spread, or immunologic cross-reactivity. In many studies, sometimes contrasting, periodontal pathogens have been evaluated in atheromatous plaques isolated from patients with chronic periodontitis. Oral inflammatory lesions have been shown unequivocally to contribute to elevated systemic inflammatory responses. In some studies, intensive periodontal therapy showed a significant reduction in c-reactive protein levels, interleukin-6, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol after 2 months. The aim of this article is to reflect the association between MetS and periodontitis and to suggest an understanding to promote interprofessional practice; with proper oral care and plaque control, we can reduce the severity of MetS.