THURSDAY, Dec. 8, 2005 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers may have discovered a link between gum disease and heart disease and stroke.
Virginia Commonwealth University researchers believe that changes in the plasma lipoprotein profile of people with severe periodontitis -- characterized by chronic infection and inflammation of the gums -- may contribute to an elevated risk of heart disease and stroke.
The 24 people in this small study had generalized aggressive periodontitis and also had elevated levels of harmful subclass of the low density lipoprotein (LDL) called "small-dense LDL."
"Previous research has shown that people who have predominately small-dense LDL in their blood are at a three- to six-fold increased risk of heart disease and stroke," study lead author Rik van Antwerpen, an assistant professor of biochemistry, said in a prepared statement.
"A person may have predominately small-dense LDL without having alarmingly high blood levels of cholesterol. Therefore, unhealthy levels of small-dense LDL are not always detected in regular cholesterol tests," van Antwerpen said.
The findings from this study suggest that it may be beneficial to test people with gum disease for changes in their plasma lipoprotein profiles, the researchers said.
The study appears in the December issue of the Journal of Lipid Research.
More information
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has more about gum disease.
