LAUSR

BACKGROUND This study analyzed the levels of a specific group of periodontal health/disease-related oral bacteria in the subgingival biofilm of young adults with overweight (OW) and obesity (OB), and no destructive periodontal disease. METHODS Full-mouth periodontal assessment and subgingival biofilm sampling were carried out in individuals with normal weight (NW; body mass index, BMI ≥18.5-≤24.9 kg/m2 ; n = 29), OW (BMI ≥25-≤29.9 kg/m2 ; n = 26), or OB (BMI ≥30 kg/m2 ; n = 22). BMI, waist (WC) and hip (HC) circumferences, and waist-hip ratio (WHR) were stablished for every individual. Biofilm samples were analyzed by checkerboard. Spearman Coefficient, Linear and Logistic regression analyses were obtained. RESULTS Gingivitis was detected in 45% NW, 65% OW and 73% OB individuals. NW patients presented significantly less calculus and supragingival biofilm than OB. OW and OB individuals had significantly higher levels of P. gingivalis and T. forsythia than NW patients (p<0.05). T. denticola correlated with BMI (rho = 0.31), WC (rho = 0.28), and HC (rho = 0.29), p≤0.01. Linear regression analysis showed significant (p<0.05) positive associations between BMI, WC, HC and WHR indicators and Prevotella spp., Lactobacillus spp., V. parvula and A. actinomycetemcomitans (Aa); negative associations were found between Capnocytophaga spp., WC and HC (β = -0.29 and β = -0.37, respectively; p<0.01). However, the interaction of Prevotella spp. and T. forsythia decreased the likelihood of an individual to be diagnosed as OW/OB (OR 0.183 [95% CI, 0.062-0.540]). CONCLUSIONS Few periodontal pathogens differed in levels between NW and OW/OB individuals without destructive periodontal disease. Moreover, Aa, T. denticola and Prevotella spp. were associated with clinical parameters of obesity. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.