Obesity and periodontitis: An experimental study to evaluate periodontal and systemic effects of comorbidity

Background: Obesity and overweight have been associated with periodontitis. This study aims to evaluate the periodontal and systemic effects of this association in a validated experimental model.Methods: 28 male Wistar rats were randomly divided in four groups: control group (Con) (fed with standard diet); high-fat diet group (HFD) (fed with a diet containing 35.2% fat); control group with induced periodontitis (Con-Perio) and HFD group with induced periodontitis (HFD-Perio). To induce periodontitis oral gavages with Porphyromonas gingivalis ATCC W83K1 and Fusobacterium nucleatum DMSZ 20482 were used. Periodontal outcomes were evaluated by inflammatory parameters, periodontal pocket depth (PPD) and modified gingival index (MGI). Systemic effects were evaluated by measuring the levels of inflammatory cytokines, insulin, adiponectin and leptin by multiplex immunoassays; the levels of visfatin, resistin, lipid profiles, transaminases and plasma endotoxin levels by colorimetric tests and the glucose tolerance...