Journal of AdvancedMedical and Dental Sciences Research

Aim - To estimate and compare plasma lycopene levels in patients with clinically/ histopathologically proven leukoplakia with that of control group (smokers/non-smokers) Materials and Methods- Total of 90 individuals were included in the study with two main groups namely cases and controls: clinically/ histopathologically proven cases of oral leukoplakia (30) and age and sex matched control group divided into two categories non-smokers (30) and smokers without leukoplakia (30). Diagnosis of oral leukoplakia was first made on the basis of history and clinical features. Determination of lycopene in blood plasma by high performance liquid chromatography. Results- The age of the patients varied between 32-65 years. In the study group out of 30 patients of leukoplakia 16 patients were with clinically homogenous variety of leukoplakia and 14 with the speckled variety. Histopathologically out of 30 patients 13 had mild dysplasia and 17 with moderate dysplasia. The mean plasma lycopene level values of non smokers, smokers without leukoplakia and smokers with leukoplakia were 137.4±62.745, 40.07±23.956 and 29.46±17.497 respectively. Plasma lycopene level was significantly higher in non-smokers than smokers without leukoplakia and smokers with leukoplakia at 99% confidence level i.e. p-value less than 0.001 but there is non-significant difference in smokers without leukoplakia and smokers with leukoplakia (p-value=0.156). Conclusions- From the analysis of the result, and within limitations of the present study, the following conclusions can be drawn leukoplakia by itself do not cause reduced lycopene levels however, the lycopene levels are further reduced in oral leukoplakia when compared to non smoker controls its levels are inversely proportional to severity of leukoplakia, frequency and duration of habit.
Keywords- Leukoplakia, Plasma Lycopene