title: Serum iron, ferritin, folic acid, and vitamin B12 levels in recurrent aphthous stomatitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The exact aetiology of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is still unknown, but different predisposing factors, including iron, vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiencies, have been proposed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum iron, ferritin, folic acid and vitamin B12 levels were investigated in 35 patients with RAS and in 26 healthy controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Vitamin B12 levels were found significantly lower in subjects with RAS than in controls. No significant differences were found in other parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We concluded that vitamin B 12 deficiency may be an aetiological factor in recurrent aphthous stomatitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Trakya University, Medical School, Edirne, Turkey.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Piskin
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sayan
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Durukan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Senol
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013281:Stomatitis, Aphthous / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood*; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D005293:Ferritins; D005492:Folic Acid; D007501:Iron; D014805:Vitamin B 12