Increased Myeloperoxidase Concentrations in Saliva could Reflect Increased Body Mass and Oral Microinflammation.

Background: Increased myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels in saliva are thought to reflect ongoing periodontal inflammation. Less clear is whether and to what extent salivary MPO is increased as a result of systemic inflammation.

Methods: In the present study, we aimed to determine which demographic, anthropometric, biochemical, and dental parameters affect the level of MPO in whole mixed saliva in healthy adults with no apparent inflammatory lesions in the oral cavity. Thus, 113 individuals, aged 20-61 years (including 30.1% men and 23.9% smokers), were examined.

Results: In the univariate analysis, higher levels of MPO in saliva were found to be associated with age, an increased body mass index (BMI), higher levels of cytokines tumour necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6, as well as poorer oral hygiene, gingival status, and lower saliva flow. Multivariate logistic regression analysis determined that the main predictors of MPO concentration in saliva were BMI and stimulated saliva flow rate.

Conclusions: Overall, an increase in MPO in saliva could be related to an increase in BMI, possibly as a result of subclinical chronic microinflammation, which also involves the gingiva.