Comparison of Periodontal Tissue Healing Responses Between Stunted Children and Children with Normal Nutritional Status Based on Interleukin-6 Profiles / Perbandingan Respons Penyembuhan Jaringan Periodontal pada Anak Stunting dan Status Gizi Normal Berdasarkan Profil Interleukin-6

Introduction: Stunting has long-term effects on child growth and development and may be associated with oral health and immune responses. Gingivitis is an inflammatory periodontal condition characterized by the activation of various inflammatory mediators, including interleukin-6 (IL-6). This study was conducted among children aged 6–12 years in the working area of Lubuk Kilangan Community Health Center, Padang City, Indonesia.Objective: To compare the periodontal healing response following scaling and root planing (SRP) between children with stunting and those with normal nutritional status based on clinical parameters and salivary IL-6 levels.Methods:This experimental study employed a pretest–posttest group design involving 60 children aged 6–12 years with gingivitis who were selected using simple random sampling, comprising 30 children with stunting and 30 children with normal nutritional status. Clinical parameters included the Oral Hygiene Index (OHI) and Gingival Index (GI), while the molecular parameter was salivary IL-6 level. All parameters were assessed before SRP and four weeks after SRP.Results: Significant improvements in clinical periodontal parameters were observed after SRP in both groups. Salivary IL-6 levels also decreased significantly in the stunting and normal nutritional status groups, with mean reductions of 2.37 pg/mL (p<0.001) and 3.36 pg/mL (p=0.002), respectively.Conclusion: SRP resulted in improvements in clinical periodontal parameters and reductions in salivary IL-6 levels in both children with stunting and those with normal nutritional status. However, the clinical improvement in the stunting group was less pronounced than in the normal nutritional status group. These findings suggest that periodontal healing responses may be influenced by both local and systemic factors. Periodontal management in children with stunting should consider systemic conditions, including nutritional status and oral health education.

Pendahuluan: Stunting berdampak jangka panjang terhadap pertumbuhan dan perkembangan anak serta dapat berkaitan dengan kesehatan rongga mulut dan respons imun. Gingivitis merupakan kondisi inflamasi periodontal yang ditandai oleh aktivasi berbagai mediator inflamasi, termasuk Interleukin-6 (IL-6). Penelitian ini dilakukan pada anak usia 6–12 tahun di wilayah kerja Puskesmas Lubuk Kilangan, Kota Padang.Tujuan: Membandingkan respons periodontal setelah terapi Scaling and Root Planing (SRP) pada anak stunting dan anak dengan status gizi normal berdasarkan parameter klinis dan kadar IL-6 saliva. Metode: Penelitian eksperimental dengan rancangan pretest–posttest group design melibatkan 60 anak usia 6–12 tahun dengan gingivitis yang dipilih secara simple random sampling, terdiri atas 30 anak stunting dan 30 anak dengan status gizi normal. Parameter klinis meliputi Oral Hygiene Index (OHI) dan Gingival Index (GI), sedangkan parameter molekuler kadar IL-6. Seluruh parameter diukur sebelum SRP dan empat minggu setelah SRP. Hasil: Terjadi perbaikan bermakna pada parameter klinis periodontal setelah SRP pada kedua kelompok. Kadar IL-6 juga menurun bermakna pada kelompok stunting dan status gizi normal, masing-masing sebesar 2,37 pg/mL (p<0,001) dan 3,36 pg/mL (p=0,002). Simpulan: Terapi SRP menghasilkan perbaikan parameter klinis periodontal dan penurunan kadar IL-6 saliva pada anak stunting maupun anak dengan status gizi normal. Namun, respons perbaikan klinis pada anak stunting lebih rendah dibandingkan anak dengan status gizi normal. Temuan ini menunjukkan bahwa respons penyembuhan periodontal dipengaruhi oleh faktor lokal dan sistemik.Pengelolaan periodontal pada anak dengan stunting perlu mempertimbangkan kondisi sistemik, termasuk status gizi dan edukasi kesehatan mulut.