Circulating Resistin Level and Oral Health Condition in Elderly Japanese

Objectives: Diabetes and periodontitis are associated with each other. Adipokines, specifically adiponectin and resistin, are secreted from adipocytes and are thought to cause insulin resistance in rodents. Additionally, adiponectin and resistin may play a role in inflammation and immune responses in human. The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship between serum levels of adipokines and oral health condition in elderly Japanese people.

Methods: Among 418 Japanese men and women of 76 years old who attended complete oral and general health examination held in Niigata, Japan in 2004, serum adipokines of 192 subjects were studied by ELISA. Among them 60 subjects with healthy gingiva (probing depth <6 mm, BOP <10%, at least 10 teeth), 47 subjects with periodontitis (probing depth ≥ 6 mm, BOP > 10%, at least 10 teeth), and 38 edentulous subjects were selected. Serum resistin and adiponectin concentrations were compared between groups by ANCOVA.

Results: Serum resistin levels and total leukocyte counts in subjects with periodontitis were higher than in subjects with healthy gingiva. No significant differences were observed in adiponectin between groups. Adjusting for sex, BMI, fasting glucose level, and smoking status, mean values of resistin in subjects with healthy gingiva, periodontitis, and edentulous subjects were 4.8 (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.0-5.7), 6.1 (95%CI, 5.2-7.1), and 5.1 (95% CI, 4.0-6.2), respectively. The difference between subjects with healthy gingiva and with periodontitis was significant (P = 0.04). Serum adiponectin tended to decrease in patients with periodontitis, but not significant.

Conclusion: Circulating resistin levels were significantly higher in subjects with periodontitis in elderly Japanese people. There was also a trend, though non-significant, toward decreased levels of adiponectin in subjects with periodontitis.