Evaluation of Level of TNF-α among Obese Patients with and without Chronic Periodontitis

AIM: The purpose of this case-control study was to evaluate the role of TNF-α in gingival crevicular fluid among obese women with chronic periodontitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 60 subjects were randomly selected for the study. The study population was further divided into three groups (Group 1, Obese women without periodontitis; Group 2, Non-obese women without periodontitis; Group 3, Obese with chronic periodontitis). Gingival crevicular fluid samples were taken for assessment based on clinical parameters like probing depth, bleeding on probing, and BMI. RESULTS: There was significant increase in the level of TNF-α in gingival crevicular fluid from obese patients with chronic periodontitis and a positive correlation was found between TNF-α levels and values of the plaque index, OHI –I and BMI. CONCLUSION: Based on these results, it can be concluded that GCF level of TNF-α was significantly higher in obese patients with and without chronic periodontitis, and highest in obese patients with chronic periodontitis group.