THE ROLE OF VITAMIN B12 AND FOLIC ACID DEFICIENCIES IN ORAL LICHEN PLANUS

Lama Hussein El-Marssafy, Fatma Fathi Hussein

ABSTRACT

Objective: The purpose of the study is to evaluate the role of vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiencies in symptomatic and non-symptomatic OLP cases. Subjects and methods: This study is composed of 3 groups, each of them composed of 20 volunteers. Group 1: Oral lichen planus cases with asymptomatic manifestations (popular, reticular or plaque-like lesions) Group 2: Oral lichen planus cases with symptomatic manifestation (bullous-erosive or atrophic lesions) Group 3: Controlled healthy subjects. Serum levels of vitamin B12 and folic acid for all participants were determined by using routine methods. Results: Vitamin B12 level in group I and II showed a statistically significantly lowered level when compared with group III with (p-value = 0.000 for both comparison). Also, a statistically significant lowered level of vitamin B12 was found in group II when compared to group I (p-value = 0.035). Regarding folic acid level, no statistically significant difference existed between group I and II with (p-value = 0.144) while a statistically significant difference existed between group I with group III and between group II with group III with (p-value = 0.031 and -0.002 respectively). Conclusion: Based on these results deficiency of vitamin B12 and folic acid might have a role in OLP lesions.

DOI : 10.62610/RJOR.2025.3.17.1