Background & objectives: Periodontitis is a destructive inflammatory disease of the supporting tissues of the teeth that occurs in response to a predominantly Gram-negative bacterial infection originating from dental plaque. Periodontitis presents with increased systemic inflammation and is known to contribute to rise in serum lipid levels. The aim of present study was to determine influence of periodontal therapy on serum lipid levels.

Methods: A total of 105 consecutive subjects were studied. Group I (n=35) included subjects with chronic generalised periodontitis who were not given periodontal therapy during study period and served as control group. Group II (n=70) comprised of subjects with chronic generalized periodontitis who were rendered needful periodontal therapy. Serum levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL & LDL cholesterol were measured at day 0 (baseline) and reassessed on day 60.

Results: In the treatment group, serum triglycerides (Pre=127.81±59.32 & Post = 121.20 ± 58.94 mg/dL, p < 0.001)), total cholesterol (Pre=176.33±38.31 & Post=171.39±31.19 mg/dL, p=0.045) and mean LDLcholesterol levels (Pre=91.91±28.54 & Post=83.94±26.00 mg/dL, p < 0.001) showed a significant decline from the pre-treatment values. HDL-cholesterol levels did not change significantly in both groups. Other lipid levels were not significantly altered in the control group.

Conclusions: Patients of chronic generalised periodontitis who were offered periodontal therapy showed improvement in the various lipid parameters except HDL-cholesterol, which was not significantly altered. Chronic periodontitis in otherwise healthy individuals may therefore, be contributing to the systemic inflammatory burden in these patients and adversely altering the lipid profile.

Key words: Cardiovascular disease, Inflammation, Periodontitis, Risk factor