Lipid profile in oral potentially malignant disorders

Introduction: One of the important components responsible for the maintenance of cell integrity is lipids, which are also required for various biological functions like cell division and growth of normal and malignant tissues. It has been proposed that malignancies are associated with changes in lipid profile. Aims and Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the alterations in lipid profile in untreated patients of oral submucous fibrosis (OSF), leukoplakia, oral lichen planus (OLP) and control group. Materials and Methods: In this hospital-based study, 20 clinically diagnosed patients of OSF, 20 biopsy-proven cases of leukoplakia, 20 biopsy-proven cases of lichen planus and 20 subjects in the control groups were studied. In the samples collected, serum lipids including the following were analyzed: (i) serum cholesterol, (ii) serum triglyceride, (iii) low-density lipoprotein (LDL), (iv) high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and (v) very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL). Results: Serum lipid profile had inverse relationship with oral precancerous conditions/lesions. Serum triglycerides and VLDL levels showed significant reduction in patients with leukoplakia and lichen planus as compared with controls. No significant correlation of the lipid profile has been found in the OSF patients. Conclusion: The above findings strongly warrant a large sample size keeping in mind the types of lichen planus, leukoplakia staging and OSF staging, and their correlation with tobacco habits is required to make it effective as a prognostic tool in life-threatening conditions