Is the serum zinc level affects the type and site of occurrence of oral lichen planus-a prospective case control study

Aims and objectives: This study aims atevaluation of correlation of serum Zn level and types of oral lichen planus and site of occurrence of oral lichen planus.
Materials and Methods: A total of 30 patients with oral lichen planus and 30 healthy individuals as the control group were recruited in this study. In a patient with clinically and histopathologically confirmed case of oral lichen planus 20mg Zinc (in form of‘zinconia’ tablets) is given once a daily from baseline(0 day), 15 days, 30 days and 45 days. The 5ml blood from each patient is collected at baseline (0 day), 15 days, 30 days and 45 days by venipuncture. The serum Zn level is analysed by Inductively Couple Plasma (ICP) protocolat baseline (0 day), 15 days, 30 days and 45 days.
Results: Reticular type (40%) is the most common type of oral lichen planus and most commonly found on right and left buccal mucosa (60%) in study population. Mean serum Zinc level is statistically not significant (p>.05) with type of oral lichen planus. It was also found that the mean serum Zinc level is not significantly (p>.05) associated with site of occurrence.
Conclusion: The reticulartype is most common form of oral lichen planus. The buccal mucosa is most common site of occurrence of oral lichen planus. The occurrence of type of oral lichen planus and site of occurence is independent of serum Zinc level.