Diabetes and Periodontitis: A two-way Relationship

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus and periodontitis are both common, chronic diseases. It is generally accepted that the inter-relationship between diabetes mellitus and periodontitis is a two-way relationship, i.e. the presence of one condition tends to increases the risk and severity of the other, and vice versa. Mechanisms for this two-way relationship are largely unknown. Hyperlipidemia is a group of disorders characterized by an excess of lipids in the bloodstream. Hyperlipidemia increases the risk of diabetes and peridontitis. On the other hand, diabetes and periodontitis could result in hyperlipidemia. The purposes of this review were: (1) examine the two-way relationship between diabetes mellitus and periodontitis; (2) discuss the potential synergistic interactions of hyperlipidemia to both diabetes mellitus and periodontitis; and (3) explore the mechanisms through which hyperlipidemia affects the development of both diseases. The effects of hyperlipidemia on insulin secretion and pro-inflammatory cytokines production (TNF-a, IL-1b) play an important role on the path-ogenesis of diabetes and periodontitis. The purpose of this article is to express the two way relationship between diabetes and chronic periodontitis.