Non-alcoholic fatty liver and periodontal disease in the adult population: Overview of systematic reviews

Abstract

Introduction: Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the periodontal supporting tissues. In addition to dental loss, it has been associated with various metabolic disorders, including obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This study aimed to analyze the effects of periodontal disease on the prevention and treatment of NAFLD in the adult population. Method: An electronic search of systematic reviews published between 2019 and 2024 was conducted in the Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, as well as in the Epistemonikos meta-search engine. The search strategy was "Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease AND Periodontitis". A total of 47 articles were identified, of which three systematic reviews with meta-analyses were analyzed. Results: The results indicated a potential association between periodontal disease and NAFLD, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.48 (95% CI: 1.15 to 1.89; I² = 92%) and 1.91 (95% CI: 1.21 to 3.02; I² = 95%). However, this link has not been definitively proven, as heterogeneity decreases and the number of patients increases, resulting in an OR of 1.04 (95% CI: 0.97 to 1.12; I² = 58%). Conclusion: It is suggested that systemic inflammation and pro-inflammatory markers may play a significant role in the pathophysiology of both conditions. Nonetheless, further studies are needed to clarify this relationship and explore the common metabolic parameters.