Serum levels of folate and vitamin B12 in oral epithelial dysplasia

Abstract

Abstract: Oral epithelial dysplasia (OED) is a histopathologic diagnosis associated with an increased risk of cancer. Deficiency of vitamin B12 and folate is associated with causation of certain precancerous and cancerous lesions. The aims of this study were: to evaluate the circulating levels of vitamin B12, folate status and iron, in patients with OED and to compare these levels with the values obtained in normal control subjects with and without tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking. To evaluate the circulating level of vitamin B12, serum folate, red blood cells folate and iron among OED patients. Data were collected from 120 patients with OED and 120 healthy control Subjects matched for age and gender, selected from patients with oral diseases not caused by tobacco or alcohol or related to knowing haematinic deficiency. Measurement of serum folate and vitamin B12 were carried out using radioassay. The majority of OED were graded either mild (46.7%) or moderate (40.0%) lesions and most of patients with OED were current smokers of more than 20 cigarettes per day for more than 20 years compared with normal healthy control. A significant decrease in the serum levels of folate, red blood cell folate was found in OED compared to normal tobacco smokers (p<0.05). No significant differences in vitamin B12 was found between OED cases and normal control subjects. Likewise significant differences in serum ferritin level were found between OED cases and normal drinkers of alcoholic beverages (p<0.05). And no significant differences in the TIBC level in OED compared with control subjects. These findings support the notion that OED may develop in persons who expose to tobacco smoking and have low folate level. A possible inverse association between iron concentrations and the risk of OED needs further study.