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BETHESDA, Md. –
April 19, 2001 Chronic periodontal disease may contribute to
diabetes, according to a review of recent research presented last
week. While it has been established that people with diabetes are
more prone to developing periodontal disease, new research is
suggesting that periodontal disease may, in turn, be a risk factor
for diabetes.
The research review was presented at an American Academy of
Periodontology (AAP)/National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial
Research (NIDCR) symposium on periodontal systemic connections in
Bethesda, Md. Periodontal disease can cause bacteria to enter the
bloodstream and activate immune cells. These activated cells produce
inflammatory biological signals (cytokines) that have a destructive
effect throughout the entire body. "In the pancreas, the cells
responsible for insulin production can be damaged or destroyed by
the chronic high levels of cytokines. Once this happens, it may
induce Type 2 diabetes, even in otherwise healthy individuals with
no other risk factors for diabetes," explained presenter Anthony
Iacopino, D.M.D., Ph.D. in the Division of Prosthodontics at
Marquette University's School of Dentistry in Milwaukee, Wis.
According to Iacopino, hyperlipidemia or high serum cholesterol,
not impaired glucose tolerance, seems to be a significant risk
factor for periodontal disease in diabetics. "Therefore,
lipid-lowering therapies, such as low-fat diets, lipid lowering
drugs and exercise, are vitally important for diabetics who want to
improve their quality of life, as well as their oral health," he
said. "The same approaches may also prove beneficial in non-diabetic
patients with high cholesterol."
The next step to determine for sure whether or not periodontal
disease can cause diabetes is to perform clinical studies and
intervention trials, which answer the question, when periodontal
disease is treated, does the risk for diabetes decrease? "Until we
have results from intervention studies to better understand the role
periodontal disease may play in diabetes, as well as heart disease,
preterm births and respiratory disease, the best advice is for
people to take excellent care of their oral health to help ensure
they keep their teeth as well as maintain overall health," said
Michael McGuire, D.D.S., president of the AAP.
SOURCE: The American Academy of Periodontology
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