Hyperlipidaemia and hyperglycaemia are major risk factors for cardiovascula
r disease. In recent years, some evidence has been presented that periodont
al disease is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
To further elucidate this association, we have studied standard blood chemi
stry variables known as risk markers for cardiovascular disease in periodon
tally diseased and healthy subjects. We have measured levels of plasma lipi
ds and fasting blood glucose in 39 subjects with moderate periodontal disea
se (age 50-60 years) and compared the results with those obtained in 40 age
- and sex-matched controls. Both groups were systemically healthy according
to their medical history. Total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein chole
sterol and triglycerides were significantly higher in periodontally disease
d subjects by about 8% (p<0.03), 13% (p<0.003) and 39% (p<0.001), respectiv
ely, when compared to controls. Although subjects with diabetes were exclud
ed from the study, we found significantly higher blood glucose levels in th
e patient than in the control group (85+/-25 versus 73+/-17 mg/dl; p<0.02).
There was also a significantly higher frequency of pathological plasma lip
id profiles in the patient than in the control group. The results indicate
that hyperlipaemia and pre-diabetes may be associated with periodontal dise
ase in systemically healthy subjects. These data do not allow us to decide,
whether periodontal disease causes an increase in hyperlipaemia and in a p
rediabetic state or whether periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease
share hyperlipidaemia and the prediabetic state as common risk factors.