Leptin levels in gingival crevicular fluid in periodontal health and disease

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: A high concentration of leptin is associated with healthy gingival tissue, and the concentration of leptin decreases as periodontal disease progresses. However, to date, the leptin concentration in gingival crevicular fluid has not been documented. Hence, the present study was carried out to explore the presence of leptin in gingival crevicular fluid in periodontal health and disease, and to probe further into its possible role in periodontal disease progression. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 45 adult patients were selected, based on their body mass index, for the study. They were categorized into three groups of 15 patients each, based on their periodontal tissue status, as follows: group I (clinically healthy gingiva with no loss of attachment); group II (chronic gingivitis with no loss of attachment); and group III (chronic periodontitis). Gingival crevicular fluid samples of 1 microL were collected extracrevicularly using white color-coded 1-5 microL calibrated volumetric microcapillary pipettes from one site in each person, and samples were analyzed for leptin using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. RESULTS: The concentration of leptin in gingival crevicular fluid of patients in group I (2292.69 pg/mL) was statistically higher (p < 0.05) than in those of groups II (1409.95 pg/mL) and III (1071.89 pg/mL). This suggests a negative correlation of gingival crevicular fluid leptin concentration with clinical attachment loss (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: As periodontal tissue destruction increased, there was a substantial decrease in gingival crevicular fluid leptin concentration. This observation extends our knowledge of the protective role of leptin in periodontal health.