Oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) are a range of mucosal abnormalities that can lead to cancer. While factors like tobacco and areca nuts contribute to OPMDs, nutritional deficiencies may exacerbate their effects by impacting epithelial integrity, immune responses, and oxidative balance. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between clinical and histopathological severity of OPMDs and deficiencies in vitamins A and E, folate, and iron.
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In a cross-sectional analytical study, 120 subjects were selected, including 80 patients with OPMDs and 40 healthy controls. The severity of OPMDs was classified histopathologically into mild, moderate, and severe epithelial dysplasia. Serum levels of the vitamins and minerals were analyzed using standard biochemical procedures. Statistical analysis, including analysis of variance and Pearson correlation, assessed the relationship between micronutrient levels and dysplasia severity.
Results showed that the average serum levels of all micronutrients were significantly lower in OPMD patients than in controls, with a p-value of less than 0.001. Vitamin A, Vitamin E, folate, and iron levels decreased as the severity of epithelial dysplasia increased. Notably, strong negative correlations were found between folate (r = -0.62) and Vitamin A (r = -0.57) levels and the grade of dysplasia.
The findings suggest a significant link between deficiencies in these micronutrients and the severity of OPMDs. Improved nutritional health during the management of OPMDs may help moderate the risk of malignant transformation, emphasizing the importance of assessing and correcting micronutrient deficiencies in affected patients.
The study, which took place over 18 months at a tertiary dental care institution, adhered to ethical standards and involved informed consent from participants. Limitations include its cross-sectional nature, which precludes causal inferences, and the lack of dietary intake measurements, potentially obscuring specific sources of deficiencies. Overall, the data indicates that addressing micronutrient deficiencies could be vital for patients with OPMDs, possibly influencing clinical outcomes and reducing cancer risk.