Original scientific paper

Folate Levels in Burning Tongue

Patrayu Taebunpakul
Pornpan Piboonratanakit
Kobkan Thongprasom

Abstract

It can be recognized that some hematological abnormalities are involved in burning
tongues. The aim of this study was to compare folate levels between patients with
burning tongue and healthy control group. Twenty-nine patients with tongue symptoms
were enrolled in this study. They were compared with 21 healthy volunteers.
Complete blood counts, hemoglobin typing, serum and red cell folate, and serum vitamin
B12 levels were investigated. Medication taking and systemic diseases in all
subjects were recorded. The results showed that 13 out of 29 patients (44.83%) had
low red cell folate levels, whereas all healthy subjects had normal red cell folate levels.
Patients with low red cell folate levels were defined as folate deficiency (n=6), folate
deficient erythropoiesis (n=2) and folate depletion (n=5). There was a significant
difference in red cell folate levels between two groups (p=0.000). Interestingly, 11
out of 29 patients with low red cell folate levels showed various tongue appearances
such as geographic, fissured, coated, atrophic and foliate papillitis. Only 2 cases
of burning tongue with normal appearance revealed low red cell folate levels. Moreover,
there was no significant difference in red cell folate levels between medication
and non medication taking patients (p=0.534). This study showed an association between
red cell folate level and burning tongue but no association was observed between
folate levels and any attendant systemic condition or prescribed medication.

Keywords

Burning mouth syndrome; Folic acid; Systemic condition; Medication

Hrčak ID:

16564

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/16564

Publication date:

15.9.2007.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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