Postmenopausal Osteoporosis and Periodontal Disease: The Role of RANKL/OPG in Bone Metabolism

This study investigates the relationship between postmenopausal osteoporosis/osteopenia and periodontal disease, focusing on the RANKL/OPG system as a key regulator of bone remodeling.Given the shared pathophysiological mechanisms underlying systemic and alveolar bone loss, we analyzed RANKL and OPG levels in gingival fluid from postmenopausal women with osteoporosis/osteopenia and periodontal disease.A total of 81 actively affected periodontal sites from postmenopausal women aged 45-70 years were analyzed.Results showed that RANKL levels were significantly elevated, while OPG levels were reduced in osteoporotic patients, leading to an increased RANKL/OPG ratio (p < 0.01).A positive correlation was found between the RANKL/OPG ratio and clinical attachment loss (p = 0.0146), suggesting a direct link between systemic bone resorption and periodontal degradation.These findings reinforce the hypothesis that osteoporosis contributes to alveolar bone loss via dysregulation of the RANKL/OPG axis.The overall relationship between osteoporosis and periodontal disease highlights the importance of interdisciplinary approaches to managing bone and periodontal health.Future research should explore additional therapeutic strategies targeting both systemic and local bone metabolism.