Assessment of Serum Biomarkers in Oral Submucous Fibrosis for Prescription of Planned Diet: A Study Protocol

Background: Oral submucous fibrosis is common and aptly a chronic condition affecting oropharyngeal structure. Characteristically it shows burning mouth sensation, mucosal stiffness with reduced mouth opening and difficulty to eat. There are many treatment options but no single treatment has proven effective. Impairment of genomic structure by ROS may initiate and promote carcinogenesis. Physiologic antioxidants work together with exogenous antioxidants to curtail effects of ROS. Vitamins E and C are especially important among the external antioxidants. OSMF is premalignant condition and is consistently associated with betel nut and tobacco like carcinogens, so may have connotation with ROS.

Objective: To determine levels of iron, zinc, copper, vitamin A, C, E within serum of oral submucous fibrosis patients to conceptualize diet plan for different grades of OSMF according to need of the patient.

Method: The present study will be conducted in 50 cases of OSMF. Five milliliters of venous blood will be obtained of each participant from the antecubital vein using 24-gauge needle. The blood samples will be centrifuged and stored. Analysis of serum for iron, copper, zinc, and vitamins A, C and E will be done subsequently with ELISA diagnostic kits for these biomarkers respectively.

Results: Serum analysis will show low levels of iron, copper, zinc, vitamin A, C and E which may act as contributing factor in the etiology of OSMF. Depending on the deficient element, diet plan will be prepared according to the need of the patient.

Conclusion: Incidence of mouth cancer is expected to rise in near future because of increase in prevalence of oral submucous fibrosis. Altered nutritional status may be an important factor in causation of OSMF. Assessing biochemical changes will help in determining the nutritional status of patient. This will help in prescribing nutritional diet for patients suffering from OSMF.