The role of vitamin D deficiency in the development and severity of oral lichen planus: a case-control study

Examine the responsibility of Vitamin D (VD) deficit as a risk element in the development and severity of oral lichen planus (OLP) considering dietary habits, sex, sun exposure, socioeconomic class and psychological factors.

Blood samples from 35 OLP patients and 35 healthy controls were collected for the analysis of serum VD level (SVDL) by ELISA. Vitamin D deficiency was considered when SVDL was ≤ 20 ng/ml. Additionally, a structured questionnaire was used to analyze other possible confounders.

SVDL were statistically significant greater in the control group than the OLP group (P ≤ 0.001). There was difference between the 3 types of OLP with statistical significance in which the least values for SVDL were in erosive type (P ≤ 0.001). Furthermore, no statistically significant difference was found in SVDL between dysplastic and non-dysplastic lesions. In terms of VD deficiency, a statistically significant distinction was noticed between the two research sets (P ≤ 0.001) and was more pronounced in erosive and atrophic types than reticular types. Depression as well as sun exposure significantly affected number of patients having VD deficiency (P = 0.001, 0.027). Results revealed a statistically significant direct relation between SVDL and the OLP (odds ratio = 1.38; 95%CI = 1.18-1.617).

VD deficiency plays a vital role in OLP and the development of more severe forms.

It corroborates that VD deficiency is a probable risk factor of OLP and the development of more severe forms considering many confounders.