Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and periodontitis – clinical and pathogenetic relationships

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and periodontitis have a number of common risk factors, such as obesity, insulin resistance (IR), and dyslipidemia, which contribute to the formation of systemic inflammation. The review articles notes that there is a bidirectional relationship between NAFLD and periodontitis, indicating that the formation of one disease can worsen the other. Today, NAFLD is considered as a systemic inflammation that can contribute to the progression of periodontitis by disrupting immune responses and exacerbating inflammatory processes in periodontal tissues. Human patients with NAFLD often have impaired lipid metabolism, which can affect the composition of the oral microbiota, leading to dysbiosis and increased susceptibility to periodontal diseases. Conversely, periodontitis is associated with the progression of NAFLD through mechanisms including systemic inflammation and oxidative stress. The formation of chronic periodontal inflammation can be accompanied by the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and bacterial toxins into the bloodstream, which contributes to liver inflammation and exacerbates the course of liver steatosis. The relationship between NAFLD and periodontitis highlights the importance of comprehensive treatment strategies targeting both diseases.