Year : 2019

Volume : Volume 10

Issue : Issue 2s

Address for correspondence :
Dr. Namrata Gulati.
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Abstract

Background:  Oral submucous fibrosis is a common precancerous condition. The primary factor considered in the pathogenesis of OSMF is the frequent use of betel nut. However, several other factors are believed to contribute to the development of OSMF including nutritional and vitamin deficiencies. There have been very few studies to determine the nutritional aspect of this insidious, chronic disease. Hence this study is carried out to estimate the serum vitamin A and vitamin E levels in OSMF patients and to compare with the healthy controls. Methods: A case-control study was conducted on 20 cases of OSMF and 20 controls. The serum vitamin A and vitamin E of all 40 participants were estimated by using a spectrophotometer. Results: The mean Vitamin A value in the patient group was calculated to be 26.30 μg/dl whereas, in the control group, it was 29.45 μg/dl. Comparing the values between different stages, there was a gradual reduction in the Vitamin A levels as the stage advanced. The mean Vitamin E value in the patient group was 7.57 μg/dl which was marginally lower than the mean Vitamin E levels in the control group (8.08 μg/dl). Comparing the values between different stages, there were almost similar values of the Vitamin E levels across all the stages.  Conclusion: The serum levels of vitamin A and vitamin E between subjects with OSMF and the healthy controls did not show any significant difference when statistically evaluated. Nor was there any considerable difference across different stages of the disease. Therefore, we could not arrive at any evidence for vitamin deficiency among this population of OSMF patients. However, studies involving larger samples and more accurate methods are suggested in the future.

Keywords: Betel nut, Oral submucous fibrosis, Vitamin A, Vitamin E.