Abstract
Background and aims. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible effects of obesity on the local (salivary) and
systemic TNF-α and IL-6 levels in patients with chronic periodontitis (CP).
Materials and methods. This study included 88 subjects assigned to four groups of 22 subjects each, as follows: group
O+P+ (patients with obesity and CP), group O-P+ (patients with normal weight and CP), group O+P- (periodontally
healthy patients with obesity), and the control group, group O-P- (periodontally healthy patients with normal weight). Serum
and salivary samples were obtained a week before the recording of clinical periodontal parameters. Local and systemic
TNF-α and IL-6 levels were determined biochemically.
Results. In serum and saliva, both TNF-α and IL-6 levels were the lowest in O-P- group (P < 0.05). The highest TNF-α and
IL-6 levels were observed in O+P+ group, while only IL-6 levels were statistically significant (P < 0.05).
Conclusion. Obesity upregulated the salivary and serum levels of TNF-α and IL-6. In patients with periodontitis, who were
also obese, the serum and saliva levels of IL-6 were significantly high. Obesity might play a destructive and provocative role
in the pathogenesis of periodontitis by negatively affecting IL-6 levels.