Farkhanda Ghafoor, Ayyaz A Khan.
Association of vitamin B12, serum ferritin and folate levels with recurrent oral ulceration.
Pak J Med Res Jan ;51(4):132-5.

Background: The pathophysiology of recurrent aphthous stomatitis or aphthous ulcers remains obscure but malnutrition is one of its contributory factors. There is some role of vitamin B12, ferritin and folate in the development of these lesions. Objectives: To determine the relationship between recurrent aphthous stomatitis and levels of ferritin, folate and vitamin B12. Study type settings: This case control study was conducted at Immunoassay lab, NHRC and Department of Dentistry, Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore. Patients and Methods: Sixty patients of all ages and both genders having history of recurrent ulcers over the past period of 3-6 months. Similar number of healthy controls were chosen who were either attendants of the patients or staff of the hospital and did not have any history of aphthous ulcers. Proforma was filled for each participant and 5ml blood was drawn and tested for complete picture blood by Sismex, serum ferritin by ELISA (Biocheck), vitamin B12 and RBC folate by IBL kits from USA. Results: Fifty seven (57) age and gender matched patients with recurrent aphthous ulcers and 57 normal healthy controls were studied. Anemia was present in 24(42.1%) patients and 18(31.6%) controls. Hematocrit levels were normal in 45(79%) patients and 40(70.2%) controls. Low levels of RBC folate was seen in 26(45.6%) patients and 26(45.6%) controls. Vitamin B12 deficiency was present in 29(50.1%) patients and none of the controls. The low levels of ferritin was seen in 6(10.5%) patients and 18(31.5%) controls. Conclusions: Patients with recurrent aphthous ulcers had more hematinic deficiencies, particularly of vitamin B12 as compared to controls.

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