30. Nutritional deficiencies

CHAPTER 30. Nutritional deficiencies
Several oral conditions of doubtful cause, such as periodontal disease or glossitis, have been ascribed to vitamin deficiencies, though patients have been otherwise healthy and well-fed. In such cases, giving vitamin preparations brings benefit only to the multibillion pound vitamin industry. Vitamin deficiencies are not a contributory cause of dental caries.

VITAMIN DEFICIENCIES

The effects of specific deficiencies are summarised in Table 30.1.
Table 30.1 Effects of specific vitamin deficiencies
Deficiency Systemic effects Oral effects
Vitamin A Night-blindness, xerophthalmia Unconfirmed contribution to leukoplakia and cancer
Thiamin (B 1) Neuritis and cardiac failure None
Riboflavin (B 2) Dermatitis Angular stomatitis and glossitis
Nicotinamide Dermatitis, CNS disease, diarrhoea Glossitis, stomatitis and gingivitis
Vitamin B 12 Pernicious anaemia Glossitis, aphthae
Folic acid Macrocytic anaemia Glossitis, aphthae
Vitamin C Scurvy (purpura, delayed wound healing, bone lesions in children) Gingival swelling and bleeding
Vitamin D Rickets Hypocalcification of teeth (severe rickets only)

Vitamin A deficiency

In rats, vitamin A deficiency has severe effects on secretory epithelium. Columnar cells become squamous in type and keratinised. Dental development is severely affected and secretory cells of salivary glands also become squamous and keratinised. However, there is no evidence that vitamin A deficiency causes such changes in humans.
Successful treatment of keratotic plaques (leukoplakias) with retinoids (vitamin A derivatives) has been claimed but not confirmed. The toxic effects of these drugs are severe and they are teratogenic. Epidemiological studies have suggested an association between low vitamin A intake and oral and other cancers, but there is growing doubt whether beta-carotene is beneficial or harmful.

Riboflavin (B 2) deficiency

Riboflavin deficiency can occasionally result from a malabsorption syndrome. In severe cases, there is typically angular stomatitis, with painful red fissures at the angles of the mouth, and shiny redness of the mucous membranes. The tongue is commonly sore. A peculiar form of glossitis in which the tongue becomes magenta in colour and granular or pebbly in appearance, due to flattening and mushrooming of the papillae, may be seen but is uncommon. The gingivae are not affected. Resolution follows within days when ribo/>

Only gold members can continue reading. Log In or Register to continue

Stay updated, free dental videos. Join our Telegram channel

Jan 9, 2015 | Posted by in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology | Comments Off on 30. Nutritional deficiencies

VIDEdental - Online dental courses

Get VIDEdental app for watching clinical videos