Research Notes – Periodontitis drug may help treat cardiovascular disease

UNMC research published in March issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association shows common, inexpensive antibiotic used to treat periodontitis — or gum disease — could reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in post-menopausal women.

Jeffrey Payne, D.D.S.

New research recently released by the UNMC College of Dentistry has found that low doses of doxycycline reduces systemic inflammation in post-menopausal women.

Systemic inflammation has been associated with coronary artery disease — a leading cause of death among post-menopausal women.

The research was published as the cover story of the March issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association.

The study, led by Jeffrey Payne, D.D.S., associate dean for research at the UNMC College of Dentistry and co-investigator Lorne Golub, D.M.D., a professor in the department of oral biology and pathology at the Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine in New York, also found that HDL levels, or good cholesterol, rose in women who were more than five years post-menopausal.

Want to see more? Read the full abstract online.

“Inflammation is a major factor in the initiation and progression of cardiovascular disease,” Dr. Payne said. “Periodontitis contributes to systemic inflammation because bacteria from the mouth can get into the blood stream and may affect the coronary arteries.

“However, further study is needed to determine whether doxycycline at a low dose can reduce the risk of coronary artery disease.”