Periodontitis is associated with GS modified mainly by anthropometric measures related to adiposity and inflammation. Putative mechanisms encompass interactions of factors declining with increasing age.

Background Women are generally periodontally healthier than men but they exhibit higher systemic levels of inflammatory markers. Our aim is to evaluate whether this paradox may be explained by different ramifications of adiposity or body shape. Methods In 3,268 subjects from the Study of Health in Pomerania, we determined anthropometric and periodontal parameters, C‐reactive protein (CRP), and fibrinogen as markers of inflammation. Behavioural and environmental risk factors and hand grip strength were assessed as factors interfering with the outcomes in question. We evaluated sex‐specific associations of adiposity characteristics and periodontal variables such as probing depth (PD) with CRP and fibrinogen. Results After adjusting for age, waist‐to‐hip ratio (WHR), glycated hemoglobin, smoking, education, and grip strength, the opposite sex role of periodontitis and obesity on CRP levels were confirmed. WHR and body mass index (BMI) were associated with CRP in both men and women (P < 0.001). CRP was associated with PD in men (P = 0.001) but not in women (P = 0.11). When adjusted for BMI this association was attenuated in men by 15% (P = 0.002) but in women by 70% (P = 0.58). PD was related to plaque and bleeding on probing (P < 0.001) in both sexes and also to WHR in women (P = 0.026) and men (P = 0.002). BMI attenuated this association in women but not in men. HbA1c contributed significantly to PD in women (P = 0.013) but not in men (P = 0.76). Conclusions Systemic CRP concentrations are affected by periodontitis and obesity in men. In women adiposity is more significant than in men overriding the impact of periodontal measures.

There is still considerable controversy surrounding the impact of mastication on obesity. The aim of this study was to identify the interplay between the masticatory muscles, teeth, and general muscular fitness and how they contribute to body adiposity in a general German population. This cross-sectional study included 616 participants (300 male, 316 female, age 31–93 years) from the population-based Study of Health in Pomerania. The cross-sectional areas of the masseter, medial and lateral pterygoid muscles were measured using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), muscular fitness assessed by hand grip strength (HGS) and body fat distribution was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and MRI. The overall prevalence of obesity was high in our cohort. The cross-sectional area of the masseter muscles was positively associated with the number of teeth, body mass index (BMI) and HGS, and negatively associated with the BIA-assessed body fat when adjusted for age, sex, teeth, and BMI. Especially the correlation was strong (p < 0.001). Analogous relationships were observed between the masseter, HGS and MRI-assessed subcutaneous fat. These associations were most pronounced with masseter, but also significant with both pterygoid muscles. Though the masticatory muscles were affected by the number of teeth, teeth had no impact on the relations between masseter muscle and adiposity. Physical fitness and masticatory performance are associated with body shape, controlled and directed by the relevant muscles.

No abstract

No abstract