Salivary Level of Trace Element in Oral Lichen Planus, A Premalignant Condition

Document Type : Research Articles

Authors

1 Oral and Dental Disease Research Center, Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine Department, School of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

2 Student Research Committee, School of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

Abstract

Background: Oral Lichen Planus (OLP) is a common inflammatory disease of unknown cause that knows also
as a premalignant condition. Recent studies contributed nutritional factors to the pathogenesis of many autoimmune
disorders. Objective: The aim of present study was to investigate the salivary levels of Magnesium (Mg), Calcium (Ca),
Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn) and Copper (Cu) in this disorder. Materials and Methods: In this observational case-control study,
the unstimulated saliva of 40 patients with OLP and 40 age and sex matched healthy control subjects were collected.
The salivary levels of Mg, Ca, Fe, Zn and Cu were determined using ICP-AES. Results: Mg levels were significantly
lower in OLP patients than in healthy controls, although it didn’t differ significantly between erosive and non-erosive
types of Lichen Planus. Also there was no meaningful relationship between the levels of Ca, Fe, Zn and Cu in case and
control groups. Conclusion: Trace elements such as Mg may have a role in ethiopathogenesis of OLP.

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