Association Between Periodontitis and Metabolic Dysfunction–Associated Steatotic Liver Disease: A Cross‐Sectional Study

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the association between periodontitis and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), with particular attention paid to sex differences. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Participants aged 40-74 years who underwent health examinations were included. Logistic regression analyses were conducted with MASLD as the dependent variable and periodontitis and other variables as independent variables. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated separately for men and women. The women were divided into three age groups (40-49, 50-59, and 60-74 years) to account for the influence of sex hormones. Interaction analyses were performed to examine sex differences in the association between periodontitis and MASLD. RESULTS: The OR for MASLD was significantly higher for women with moderate or severe periodontitis than for those without periodontitis [1.40 (95% CI: 1.04-1.89) and 1.64 (95% CI: 1.04-2.59)]. Periodontitis was associated significantly with MASLD among women aged 50-59 years, but not among women in other age groups or men. A significant multiplicative, but not additive, interaction between sex and periodontitis was found to affect the risk of MASLD. CONCLUSIONS: Periodontitis was associated with MASLD in women. The association of periodontitis with MASLD may differ between men and women.