Exploring gender difference in the association between oral and systemic health by the mediation analysis

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K10229
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 57080:Social dentistry-related
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Furuta Michiko 九州大学, 歯学研究院, 准教授 (20509591)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 山下 喜久 九州大学, 歯学研究院, 教授 (20192403) ; 二宮 利治 九州大学, 医学研究院, 教授 (30571765)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 歯科疾患 / 性差 / 歯周病

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The aim of this study was to determine serum levels of retinol binding protein-4 (RBP4), which is related to insulin resistance, and to investigate whether RBP4 influenced sex differences in the association between obesity and periodontal disease. However, no association between obesity → RBP4 → periodontal disease was observed. On the other hand, causal mediation analysis showed an association between obesity → high-sensitivity CRP → periodontal disease in women. In this association, there was no direct effect and an indirect effect was found, with a mediation rate of 47.8%. Considering the results for RBP4 in the present study, it is suggested that the association between obesity and periodontal disease is mediated by inflammatory status, but not by insulin resistance in women.

Free Research Field

予防歯科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

歯科疾患の性差に着目している研究は未だ少なく、本研究で口腔と全身の健康の関係の性差を引き起こす「鍵因子」としてインスリン抵抗性ではなく、炎症が関与していることを見出した。この研究結果は歯科疾患の性差の原因を究明する一助となりうる。また、本研究の結果では、男性では肥満と歯周病の関連性は認められなかったが、女性の場合は肥満を防止することによって、全身の炎症状態を抑えることができ、歯周組織状態を良好に保つ可能性を示唆している。