The Study
Dysbiosis of the oral microbiome and cardiovascular risk; from endothelial dysfunction to systemic inflammation
This study is like a story that puts together lots of other people's findings to explain how gum disease might be connected to heart problems. But it doesn't do any new experiments or count how many people had both — so we can't say gum disease definitely causes heart disease, only that they sometimes happen together.
Analysis score
Maximum 5 for a narrative review.
Where the score came from
Bad bacteria in your mouth can sneak into your blood and make your blood vessels sick, leading to heart attacks and strokes.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 51 / 100
Quality score
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of cohort studies. They sit above a single cohort study but below a single randomized trial, because the underlying evidence is still observational.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes — even after accounting for smoking or diabetes, people with gum disease have a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes.
- 2Oral bacteria like Porphyromonas gingivalis are found in blood vessels; people with gum disease have higher levels of inflammation markers like CRP and IL-6.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Immunopathologia Persa
Year
2026
Authors
Ali Farmanieh, Afsoon Jalali Ara, Sara Rashki Ghalehno, P. Malek, Mitra Rostami, Seyed Sasan Amiri, Negar Khaneshi, Reza Faramarzzadeh, Golara Abdolmohammadi, M. Onsori
Related Content
Claims (6)
The types and amounts of bacteria in the mouth are linked to the likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease.
Oral microbiome imbalance that causes persistent systemic inflammation, marked by high levels of interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and C-reactive protein, is linked to faster development of atherosclerosis through increased foam cell formation, destabilization of arterial plaques, and structural changes in blood vessels.
People with periodontitis have a higher likelihood of experiencing heart attacks, strokes, and more severe artery disease, even when accounting for smoking, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
Bacteria from gum disease, including Porphyromonas gingivalis and its toxic molecules, are found in the blood and blood vessel walls of people with periodontitis and are linked to injury of the blood vessel lining and activation of inflammatory signals.
Oral microbiome imbalance linked to gum disease reduces nitric oxide, increases oxidative stress, and elevates levels of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 molecules, which cause white blood cells to stick to blood vessel walls and trigger atherosclerosis.
Oral microbiome imbalance causes systemic inflammation that leads to insulin resistance and abnormal blood fats, which together form metabolic syndrome and raise the risk of heart disease.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.