Assessment of vitamin D levels in patients with oral potentially malignant disorders and oral squamous cell carcinoma-A cross-sectional study

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess and compare the serum and salivary levels of Vitamin D in patients with oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) and Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) with healthy controls.

Method: This cross-sectional study was carried out among 60 patients reporting to the department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, and included patients with OPMDs, OSCC and healthy controls. The Vitamin D levels were estimated using the chemiluminescence immunoassay. One-way ANOVA was used to compare mean and statistical difference between the groups. Tukey's post HOC test calculated for inter group difference. Serum and salivary Vitamin D levels were corelated with Pearson's coefficient. The values of p < 0.005 was considered as significant.

Results: The levels of Vitamin D were decreased in study group as compared to controls both in serum and saliva. (p < 0.001). Between serum and salivary Vitamin D levels, a strong association was discovered using the Pearson's coefficient value of 0.737 (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: In this study, patients with both OPMDs and OSCC had Vitamin D insufficiency & deficiency. Vitamin D level assessment should be included as a standard component of routine investigations for these individuals.