Obesity and insulin resistance, risk factors for gingivitis in children?

Abstract

Insulin resistance (IR) may be present in overweight/obesity (O/O). Obesity and periodontitis were studied in adults. Our aim was to evaluate whether IR in (O/O) children was associated with gingivitis. A cross‐sectional, prospective, observational, descriptive and a comparison study of independent samples were undertaken. Thirty‐four children between 8–14 years of age with diagnosis of O/O attending the Pediatrics Section of Buenos Aires Hospital, were included. Based on HOMA, children were grouped according to HOMA>;2.5 (IR) and below it was non IR (NIR). Plaque index (IP) (Silness‐Loe,1964), gingival index (GI) (Loe‐Silness,1963) and bleeding on probing (BoP) (Muhlemann, 1975), were recorded. Fischer‐test, p<0.05.ResultsHOMA>;2.5 was found in 50% O/O children. In IR, PI=57.2%(28.8–82.3) vs. 42.8 % (17.6–71.1)(p=0.728), GI=54.8%(36.0–72.6)vs. 45.2%(27.4–63.9)(p=0.227) and BoP=70.6%(41.0–86.7)vs. 29.4%(10.3–56.0)(p=0.038). These results suggest a high prevalence of IR in O/O children, associated with oral manifestations. New studies will be designed to establish whether the progression of gingivitis in IR children is favored by the systemic disease. Awarded by UBACyT 20020100100613 & CO02.