Chronic periodontitis not only damages the gums, but can also increase the risk of developing cancer of the esophagus and stomach. It showed a large-scale study published in the journal Gut. Possible reasons for this probably – certain bacteria that cause inflammation in the mucous membranes.
Periodontitis is a widespread disease: on average, every second patient during life of disease of the soft tissues surrounding the tooth (periodontium). Periodontal diseases affect the tissues that support the teeth. It is often accompanied by bleeding or swollen gums (gingivitis), pain, sometimes a bad odor and even loss of teeth. According to doctors, periodontitis can cause the development of cardiovascular diseases and even Alzheimer’s disease. But that’s not all the detrimental effects of periodontal disease. Previous studies have shown that persistent problems with teeth and gums can contribute to the emergence of malignant tumors, not only in the mucosa of the mouth.
This fact is confirmed by new work by American scientists. The team led by Chun-Han Lo of Harvard University (USA) analyzed data on the health status 98 459 women (1992-2014) and more than 49 685 men (1988-2016), who took part in two large long-term studies. Scientists have studied whether there is a relationship between the health of the gums and teeth and the risk of various types of cancer. Decided the sad pattern, the authors write: “For 22-28 years of observation, we recorded 199 cases of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus and 238 cases of adenocarcinoma of the stomach.”
According to the command Lo, the proportion of participants in the study, patients with periodontitis who have developed one of these two types of cancer, was disproportionate. Moreover, this relationship persisted even when accounting for other negative factors. In General, people with gum disease the risk of developing of esophageal cancer was 43% and 59% higher compared to those who have never had gum disease. Patients with periodontitis who have lost one or more teeth, the risk of stomach cancer increased by 59% and 68%.
Possible cause side effects of periodontal disease – how do bacteria in the oral cavity, and the resulting changes in the cells. According to the researchers, there is already evidence that the causative agents of periodontitis and Tannerella forsythia and Porphyromonas gingivalis are associated with the presence or risk of cancer of the esophagus and stomach. It is also known that the metabolic products of Porphyromonas contribute to DNA damage and mutations. “These data confirm the importance of the microbiome of the oral cavity cancer of the esophagus and stomach,” concludes Lo.
meanwhile, the authors acknowledge, their study shows correlation but cannot prove causes��but effect. Therefore, further studies are needed that will identify pathogens of periodontitis, responsible for this relationship.
