Study links periodontitis to metabolic syndrome risk

Dental Tribune International

Mon. 3. November 2025

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KUOPIO, Finland: A large Finnish population-based study has assessed periodontitis using salivary biomarkers—rather than clinical and radiographic oral examination—and found that it is associated with both existing and future risk of metabolic syndrome. The findings strengthen the evidence that systemic inflammation linked to oral disease may play a contributory role in metabolic dysfunction.

In the study, researchers from the University of Eastern Finland and collaborating institutions examined data from more than 4,000 adults in the Dietary, lifestyle and genetic determinants of obesity and metabolic syndrome study. Periodontal status was assessed using a validated cumulative risk score derived from three salivary biomarkers—Porphyromonas gingivalis, interleukin-1β and matrix metalloproteinase-8—representing microbial burden, inflammation and tissue destruction.

At baseline, nearly half of the participants met diagnostic criteria for metabolic syndrome based on International Diabetes Federation standards. Individuals classified in the highest periodontitis risk group had a significantly higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components, specifically abdominal obesity, hyperglycaemia and elevated blood pressure. After adjustment for confounding factors, individuals with the highest periodontitis biomarker scores were more frequently found to have metabolic syndrome than those with the lowest scores—indicating a strong association between periodontitis markers and systemic metabolic imbalance.

During seven-year follow-up of 618 participants who did not have metabolic syndrome, just over one-fifth developed the condition. While the overall association between periodontitis and incident metabolic syndrome was not statistically significant overall, the association was significant among the women and non-smoker subgroups. Further analysis indicated that systemic inflammation, as reflected by C-reactive protein levels, partly explained the observed relationship.

The authors propose that salivary biomarker panels could offer a practical and non-invasive means of screening for systemic disease susceptibility in dental settings. For clinicians, the findings underscore the importance of recognising periodontitis as a potential indicator of broader metabolic imbalance. Routine periodontal assessment and timely management may therefore contribute not only to oral health but also to mitigation of metabolic risk.

The use of salivary biomarkers to track oral health issues is a burgeoning field of dental research. For example, as reported on by Dental Tribune International, a team of US researchers is using salivary biomarkers to predict the development of periodontitis.

The study’s population-based design, biomarker approach and extended follow-up provide robust evidence linking oral and systemic health. However, further research is needed to confirm causality and evaluate whether periodontal therapy can modify metabolic outcomes, the researchers said.

The study, titled “The association of periodontitis with risk of prevalent and incident metabolic syndrome”, was published on 23 September 2025 in Journal of Clinical Periodontology ahead of inclusion in an issue.