OBJECTIVE

Recent studies have proposed an association between periodontitis and metabolic abnormalities. We investigated the association between insulin resistance and periodontitis among Korean adults.

METHODS

A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008-2010. A total of 16,720 non-diabetic subjects over 18 years old were evaluated (7060 men and 9660 women). Periodontal status was assessed by the Community Periodontal Index. Insulin resistance was measured using the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Participants in the highest and lowest quartile of HOMA-IR were defined as insulin-resistant and insulin-sensitive respectively.

RESULTS

The prevalence of periodontitis increased significantly with higher HOMA-IR quartiles in post-menopausal women (p for linear association = 0.019). Among post-menopausal women, participants in the highest quartile of HOMA-IR were significantly more likely to have periodontitis compared to those in the lowest quartile [adjusted odds ratio (OR), 1.47; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.07-2.01]. Moreover, obese post-menopausal women showed an increased association between insulin resistance and periodontitis (adjusted OR, 1.92; 95% CI,1.29-2.87). However, this association was not found in men or pre-menopausal women.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that insulin resistance may be associated with periodontitis, especially when combined with obesity, among post-menopausal women in Korea.