Correlation of Serum Zn Levels with Glycaemic and Periodontal Measures in Type 2 Diabetic Patients with Periodontitis – A Pilot Study.

Abstract

Background: Zinc, an antimicrobial substance, is under research for its potential use in treating periodontitis. Periodontitis is a condition affecting 70% of adults and 95.1% type 2 diabetic patients. However, the pathogenesis and molecular role of Zn in periodontal therapy is still unclear.

Methodology: Using Convenience sampling method weenrolled59 adults who were in 30 to 50 years of age and had periodontitis with type 2 diabetes. Details like age, gender, education level, smoking status and duration of diabetes were collected. Severity of periodontitis was assessed by probing depth and clinical level of attachment; and glycaemic status was assessed by Glycosylated hemoglobin and fasting blood sugar levels in blood. Serum Zn levels were estimated at local diagnostic center. Based on the periodontal measures, participants were group into mild, moderate and severe periodontitis. Then data obtained was analyzed statistically by ANOVA and Pearson’s correlation among the groups.

Results: Statistically significant difference (p= 0.0097) was noted in serum Zn levels of mild (67.0±15.28), moderate (63.1±12.02) and severe (49.4 ±9.20) periodontitis. HbA1c levels were towards poor glycaemic control in moderate (6.90±2.11) and severe (7.07±1.38) periodontitis compare to mild (5.94±1.04), while FBS levels were above the normal limit in all the three groups. No Significant difference was noted in age and duration of diabetes of these participants. Total 56.66% of participants were with habit of smoking.  Age, smoking status, education level, duration of diabetes, Hb1C, FBS and serum Zn were significantly associated with severity of periodontitis (p = < 0.05). Significant correlation noted between serum Zn levels and periodontal measures in all the three groups; while glycaemic measures like HbA1c correlated in mild periodontitis only and FBS was not in correlation in mild (r=0.022p=0.924), moderate (r=0.216 p=0.389) and severe (r=0.216p=0.389) peridontitis patients.

Conclusion: Zn deficiency was high in severe periodontitis with type 2 diabetes, which could be a factor for disease severity among them. Further large scale studies at molecular level were required in dental setting to understand the molecular mechanism in severity of periodontitis.