Relationship between the nutritional status and antimicrobial protein levels with the periodontal condition in untreated head and neck cancer patients

BACKGROUND: Chronic periodontitis might be associated with oral premalignant lesions, tongue cancers, and other oral neoplasms, which is a foremost public health problem throughout the world. The nutritional status of the patient with cancer becomes very important for tolerating the treatment course as most of the newly diagnosed patients with head and neck cancer are malnourished before treatment begins. Antimicrobial proteins are also essential contributors to maintaining the balance between health and disease in this complex environment. Therefore the aim of this study was to determine whether an association exists between the measures of nutritional status and the levels of antimicrobial proteins with the periodontal condition in newly diagnosed, untreated head and neck cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 50 patients newly diagnosed with head and neck carcinoma were included. Saliva and plasma samples were collected, together with clinical periodontal recordings. Nutritional status parameters consisted of body mass index, serum albumin, hemoglobin, and total lymphocyte count. Cystatin C and lysozyme were the antimicrobial proteins. RESULTS: A logistic regression model showed that periodontal parameters were inversely related to their nutritional status; however, antimicrobial protein levels showed to be directly related to periodontal condition. CONCLUSION: This study suggests an association between periodontal disease, nutritional status parameters, and antimicrobial protein levels.