Salivary vitamin D levels among OSCC and normal Indian patients

Abstract

Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma comprises nearly 90% of all Oral cancers. Recent studies on Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma are done with a focus on identification of factors that affect the outcome of treatment, one of which is vitamin D levels. The aim of this study was to evaluate vitamin D3 levels in patients with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Normal Population with saliva as a biomarker. The study sample comprised of 40 subjects, of whom 20 were patients diagnosed with OSCC and 20 healthy subjects. The salivary samples obtained were assessed using Vitamin D3 ELISA kit. The mean salivary Vitamin D3 levels were 39.09 ng/dl among OSCC patients and 44.49 ng/dl among healthy subjects. Salivary Vitamin D levels in OSCC patients were found to be significantly less compared to the healthy controls. More than 90% of cancers of the oral cavity are Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC). Recent studies are done with a focus on identification of factors affecting the treatment of cancer, one of which is vitamin D levels. The aim of the study was to evaluate salivary vitamin D3 levels in patients with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma and in Normal Population. 40 patients were selected for the study. Salivary samples collected were assessed using Vitamin D3 ELISA Kit-EDI Total 25-OH Vitamin D EIA Kit to detect the salivary vitamin D levels. Mean Salivary Vitamin D3 levels were found to be 39.09 ng/dl in OSCC patients and 44.49 ng/dl in healthy subjects. A salivary Vitamin D level in OSCC patients was found to be significantly less compared to the healthy controls. Decreased Vitamin D3 levels in patients with OSCC indicate that Vitamin D3 deficiency increases the rate of cell proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis & metastasis in patients with OSCC. Vitamin D level is likely to reduce the severity of the disease and hence Vitamin D supplementation for OSCC patients in the early stages of treatment and after treatment can be done to enhance the prognosis.