Correlation of salivary visfatin levels in obese and NON-OBESE population with periodontal status

BACKGROUND: Visfatin is an inflammatory adipokine that has been linked to obesity and plays a key function in immune response modulation. It's also been proposed that it's a pro-inflammatory marker for periodontitis. Hence, the aim of the present study was to assess the salivary Visfatin levels in obese and non-obese population and correlate with the periodontal status. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 40 individuals aged between 21 and 35 years (Group 1: n = 20, non-obese and Group 2: n = 20, obese) were enrolled in this case-control study. Clinical parameters such as periodontal probing depth (PPD) and clinical attachment level (CAL) were recorded. Body Mass Index (BMI) was recorded. Unstimulated salivary samples were collected and the samples were assayed for Visfatin using human Visfatin ELISA kit. The results were analysed using SPSS Software, Version 23.0. Unpaired t-test and Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the clinical parameters and salivary Visfatin level between both the groups. Also, Spearman's rank correlation test was done for correlation of BMI with salivary Visfatin levels and clinical parameters. RESULTS: The salivary Visfatin level was higher in group 2 (33.1070 ± 0.81 ng/mL) as compared to group 1 (22.2310 ± 1.33 ng/mL). Moderate positive statistically significant association was found between BMI and Visfatin (r = 0.738, p = 0.000). Also when Visfatin and PPD and CAL were correlated, moderate positive statistically significant association was found (r = 0.625, p = 0.000 and r = 0.630, p = 0.000). CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that there exists a positive correlation between BMI and salivary Visfatin and BMI and periodontal parameters including probing depth and clinical attachment level. This illustrates that salivary Visfatin may be a potential marker for periodontal inflammation in obese population.