To Determine Deficiencies of Vitamin B12, Serum Ferritin and RBC Folate as Aetiologic Factor in Recurrent Oral Ulceration

ABSTRACT

Background: Aphthous Ulcers of oral cavity with poorly understood etiology are very frequently encountered in general practice. Many factors are known to contribute to the pathogenesis of Recurrent Oral Ulceration (ROU). World Health Organization has recognized public health importance of nutritional anemia as a major health problem through out world especially in the developing countries. The possibility of deficiency of these nutritional values acting as etiological factor in recurrent oral ulceration has been recognized and was taken up in this study.

Methods: The study population consisted of 57 subjects known to be cases of ROU along with 57 matched non-ROU controls. The study assessed the levels of five factors commonly known to be associated with ROU. These factors included haemoglobin, hematocrit, RBC folate, Vitamin B₁₂ and serum ferritin levels.

Results: The results showed significant difference of reduction in RBC folate and Vitamin B₁₂ levels in the ROU cases. Other factors did not show statistically significant difference in the groups studied. RBC folate and Vitamin B₁₂ seem to be associated with ROU pathogenesis.

Conclusions: This study concludes vitamin B₁₂ deficiency may be considered a major an etiological factor when nutritional profile is taken and RBC folate maybe found as confounding factor.