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Significant association of deficiency of hemoglobin, iron and vitamin B12, high homocysteine level, and gastric parietal cell antibody positivity with atrophic glossitis.

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Atrophic glossitis (AG) is considered to be a marker of nutritional deficiency. In this study, we evaluated whether there was an intimate association of the deficiency of hemoglobin, iron, vitamin B12 or folic acid, high blood homocysteine level, and serum gastric parietal cell antibody (GPCA) positivity with AG.
METHODS
The blood hemoglobin, iron, vitamin B12, folic acid, and homocysteine concentrations and the serum GPCA level in 176 AG patients were measured and compared with the corresponding levels in 176 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects.
RESULTS
We found that 39 (22.2%), 47 (26.7%), 13 (7.4%), and 3 (1.7%) AG patients had deficiencies of Hb (men < 13 g/dl, women < 12 g/dl), iron (<60 μg/dl), vitamin B12 (<200 pg/ml), and folic acid (<4 ng/ml), respectively. Moreover, 38 (21.6%) AG patients had abnormally high blood homocysteine level, and 47 (26.7%) AG patients had serum GPCA positivity. AG patients had a significantly higher frequency of Hb, iron, or vitamin B12 deficiency, of abnormally elevated blood homocysteine level, or of serum GPCA positivity than healthy control subjects (all P-values = 0.000). However, no significant difference in frequency of folic acid deficiency was found between AG patients and healthy control subjects.
CONCLUSION
We conclude that there is a significant association of deficiency of hemoglobin, iron and vitamin B12, abnormally high blood homocysteine level, and serum GPCA positivity with AG.

Links

  • Publisher Full Text

    • Authors

    Sun A, Lin HP, Wang YP, Chiang CP

    Institution

    Department of Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Taipei, Taiwan.

    Source

    Journal of oral pathology & medicine : official publication of the International Association of Oral Pathologists and the American Academy of Oral Pathology 41:6 2012 Jul pg 500-4

    MeSH

    Adult
    Aged
    Aged, 80 and over
    Antibodies
    Atrophy
    Burning Mouth Syndrome
    Candidiasis, Oral
    Case-Control Studies
    Female
    Folic Acid Deficiency
    Glossitis
    Hemoglobins
    Humans
    Hyperhomocysteinemia
    Hypesthesia
    Iron
    Male
    Middle Aged
    Parietal Cells, Gastric
    Taste Disorders
    Tongue
    Tongue Diseases
    Varicose Veins
    Vitamin B 12 Deficiency
    Xerostomia

    Pub Type(s)

    Comparative Study
    Journal Article

    Language

    eng

    PubMed ID

    22188475