The association between vitamin D/25(OH)D and reproductive hormone in young women with recurrent aphthous stomatitis: An observational study

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the association between vitamin D/25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] level and reproductive hormone in women with recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS). The reproductive hormonal change suggested contributing to development of RAS in women. Studies have also shown that vitamin D deficiency may contribute to the development of RAS. So far, there is no study that reveals the association between vitamin D/25(OH)D and reproductive hormone in RAS. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed on 38 female patients with RAS without any systemic history, any habit, or on any medications. All subjects with RAS underwent intraoral examination and hormonal level assessment to examine reproductive hormones (follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH], luteinizing hormone [LH], estradiol, and progesterone), cortisol, and vitamin D/25(OH)D. The demographic characteristics of oral ulcers, predisposing factors, and pain (visual analog scale [VAS]) scores of RAS were also obtained from all participants. The characteristics of subjects, severity of RAS, FSH, LH, estradiol, progesterone, cortisol, and vitamin D/25(OH)D were presented descriptively. Results: All subjects had mean value of estradiol (93.99 ± 81.34 pg/mL), progesterone (0.73 [0.44 to 3.73 ng/mL]), FSH (4.24 ± 1.90 mIU/mL), LH (8.12 ± 5.76 mIU/mL), cortisol (8.13 ± 2.70 µg/mL), and had low mean value of serum vitamin D/25(OH)D (10.88 ± 3.21 ng/mL) which was categorized with vitamin D deficiency. The result of Pearson correlation test showed a significant positive correlation between mean LH and vitamin D/25(OH)D (P < 0.05). Conclusion: All subjects with RAS have vitamin D deficiency and vitamin D is correlated with LH.