Comparative evaluation of serum high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein levels and glycated hemoglobin levels and periodontal status in type 2 diabetic patients: A pilot project

BACKGROUND: High levels of cholesterol in the body can be alarming and point toward a possible cardiac or diabetic problem. Current evidence reveals that the harmful low-density lipoproteins (LDL) cholesterol tend to increase in poorly controlled diabetes, whereas the useful high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, known for its protective anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, is decreased. With a positive evidence of periodontal disease being implicated in diabetes, it was decided to investigate whether there was any association between serum HDL, LDL, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and periodontal status with Type II diabetes mellitus patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 500 nonsmoking patients (males and females) aged between 35 and 55 years with Type 2 diabetes mellitus and no other systemic disease were selected from the diabetic center, Diacon hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. Periodontal examination consisted of the clinical parameters, namely, attachment loss, gingival index (GI) and plaque index based on which the patients were divided into periodontally healthy and diseased groups. Blood samples were collected from each patient to evaluate the serum levels of HDL, LDL and HbA1c. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed between the HDL, LDL and HbA1c levels in both the periodontal groups (P > 0.05). Linear regression analysis showed significant positive correlations of clinical attachment level with LDL and negative correlation with HbA1c, whereas GI has a positive correlation with LDL and negatively with HDL and Hba1c levels (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Varied associations were found between dyslipidemia, glycemic control and periodontal inflammation. Further longitudinal as well as interventional studies may be beneficial to ascertain the causal relationship between cholesterol levels, periodontal status and diabetes mellitus.