At present, obesity, as a part of metabolic syndrome, represents the leading factor for disability, and is correlated with higher inflammation status, morbidity, and mortality. The purpose of our study is to add new insights to the present body of knowledge regarding the correlations between chronic systemic inflammation and severe obesity, which cannot be treated without considering other metabolic syndrome conditions. Biomarkers of high-level chronic inflammation are recognized as important predictors of pro-inflammatory disease. Besides the well-known pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as WBCs (white blood cells), IL-1 (interleukin-1), IL-6 (interleukin-6), TNF-alpha (tumor necrosis factor-alpha), and hsCRP (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein), as well as anti-inflammatory markers, such as adiponectin and systemic inflammation, can be determined by a variety of blood tests as a largely available and inexpensive inflammatory biomarker tool. A few parameters, such as the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio; the level of cholesterol 25-hydroxylase, which is part of the macrophage-enriched metabolic network in adipose tissue; or levels of glutamine, an immune–metabolic regulator in white adipose tissue, are markers that link obesity to inflammation. Through this narrative review, we try to emphasize the influence of the weight-loss process in reducing obesity-related pro-inflammatory status and associated comorbidities. All data from the presented studies report positive results following weight-loss procedures while improving overall health, an effect that lasts over time, as far as the existing research data show.
Background and Objectives: Overweight and obesity are well-known conditions that negatively impact the health and lifestyle of an individual. Bariatric surgery is one of the most efficient weight loss techniques. Besides the main effect on the bodyweight, improvement in the levels of inflammatory biomarkers, such as interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalfa), and others, has been observed. The purpose of this study was to establish the correlations between obesity-linked chronic systemic inflammation (estimated with inflammatory cytokine levels) and the weight loss process after metabolic surgery. Materials and Methods: An observational cohort study included two categories: the patients with obesity–bariatric group and the patients without obesity–control group. The study was performed between 1 February 2021 and 1 March 2023. Baseline characteristics, anthropometrics, biochemical assessment and inflammatory biomarkers were measured both before surgery and one year after the procedure, in the case of the bariatric group. The control group was assessed in the same period as the pre-surgery bariatric group. The bariatric group underwent two types of bariatric procedures: the majority underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy whereas a select few underwent one anastomosis laparoscopic gastric bypass. Results: We performed a prospective study comprising 55 Caucasian patients—from which 33 patients had morbid obesity, a mean age of 41.76 ± 10.78 and a mean BMI of 43.34± 7.51 kg/m2. The preoperative levels of IL-6 were positively correlated with waist circumference (r = 0.354, p = 0.043), weight (r = 0.549, p = 0.001) and BMI (r = 0.520, p = 0.002). After applying the Kruskal–Wallis test and Dunn’s test, significant differences for IL-6 (p = 0.010) and adiponectin (p = 0.024) were obtained for values recorded pre- and post-surgery. No correlation was found between adiponectin, IL-6, TNF- α levels and anthropometric indices after surgery. Our study showed that bariatric surgery significantly changes the values of inflammatory cytokines one year after surgery. Nevertheless, we did not find significant correlations between the baseline values of these inflammatory markers and the weight loss process after surgery at a short-term (one-year) follow-up. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that bariatric surgery significantly changes the level of inflammatory cytokines one year after operation. We demonstrate that preoperative levels of IL-6 are positively correlated with age, WC, and BMI.
Background: Halitosis is a common condition often rooted in periodontal disease and exacerbated by systemic disorders such as obesity. This short-term clinical evaluation investigates the relationship between halitosis, obesity, and periodontitis, and assesses the efficacy of a natural essential oil mouthwash as an adjunctive oral hygiene intervention. Methods: In this randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 45 obese patients with diagnosed periodontitis and self-reported halitosis were randomly assigned to either a test group (n = 30), receiving an essential oil-based mouthwash, or a control group (n = 15), receiving a placebo. Over 28 days, participants were evaluated using plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BOP), organoleptic scoring, and BANA test results. Both subjective and objective halitosis assessments were performed. Results: The test group showed marked improvements in all parameters compared to controls. PI decreased by 31.5% in the test group versus 9.25% in controls; BOP reduced by 34.5% versus 6.0%; BANA test positivity dropped by 38.1% in the test group. Organoleptic scores improved by 45.9% (examiner-rated) and 36.8% (self-assessed) in the test group. Conclusions: This 28-day clinical evaluation demonstrates the potential of an essential oil-based mouthwash to significantly reduce halitosis and periodontal inflammation in obese individuals with periodontitis. The necessity of future randomized trials is evident to substantiate the sustained benefits and safety of the intervention.
Background and Objectives: Obesity represents a major public health concern worldwide, particularly in economically challenged regions, and is often associated with metabolic comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and metabolic-associated fatty liver disease. Oxidative stress plays a central role in obesity pathophysiology through the accumulation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. This study aimed to investigate changes in specific oxidative stress biomarkers in patients with obesity before and one year after bariatric surgery, with a lean control group as reference. Methods: This observational cohort study included 50 patients with morbid obesity undergoing bariatric surgery (laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy or one-anastomosis gastric bypass) and 50 patients without obesity undergoing other surgical procedures. Plasma levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced and oxidized glutathione (GSH and GSSG), nitrite (NO2−), and nitrate (NO3−) were measured preoperatively and one year postoperatively in the bariatric group, and once in the control group. Quantification was performed using HPLC-based techniques. Results: Postoperative analysis revealed a significant reduction in oxidative stress markers. MDA levels decreased from 21.58 to 16.62 ng/mL after surgery, while GSH levels increased significantly, although they remained lower than in the control group. GSH/GSSG ratio improved slightly, indicating enhanced antioxidant capacity. Nitrite and nitrate levels showed a marked reduction postoperatively, which may reflect both diminished NO production and complex metabolic adaptations following weight loss. Correlation analysis showed that reductions in BMI were significantly associated with increases in GSH levels and decreases in MDA. Conclusions: Bariatric surgery led to significant improvements in key oxidative stress biomarkers in patients with obesity, supporting the hypothesis that weight loss mitigates oxidative damage. However, the reduction in nitrite suggests potential trade-offs in nitric oxide metabolism that warrant further investigation. Long-term studies are needed to determine the clinical significance and sustainability of these biochemical improvements.
Background: Obesity and periodontitis are linked through inflammatory and metabolic pathways, and the oral microbiota may mediate this interaction. Age-related changes in immunity, salivary function, and cumulative exposure may modify obesity-associated periodontal dysbiosis. Objective: We sought to synthesize the potential for age-related differences in the oral microbiota of adult obese patients with periodontitis and assess the strength of current literature in supporting age-specific interpretations. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Embase identified 1088 records. After screening and full-text assessment, 50 studies that met the criteria for focused qualitative synthesis remained. Within that review corpus, 10 representative adult human studies provided the most direct evidence linking obesity or overweight, periodontal phenotype, oral microbiota, and age-relevant interpretation. Risk of bias was appraised with the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Results: Direct head-to-head microbiome comparisons between younger and older obese adults with periodontitis are rare. Direct evidence links obesity to greater periodontal inflammatory burden, enrichment of classical periopathogens and bridging taxa, and shifts in community structure. Contextual aging studies have suggested that older adults may more often harbor lower-diversity, persistence-oriented communities enriched in stress-tolerant, proteolytic, or opportunistic taxa, whereas younger obese adults more often show inflammation-amplifying consortia enriched in classical periopathogens and bridging taxa. However, these patterns remain largely hypothesis-generating because the evidence base is heterogeneous and predominantly cross-sectional. Conclusions: Age likely modifies the obesity–periodontitis–microbiota axis, but direct comparative evidence on adults remains limited. The current literature supports cautious age-aware interpretation within a systematic review framework rather than definitive age-specific microbial signatures or treatment algorithms.