The Relationship between Dietary Deficiency and the Occurrence of Papillary Atrophy of the Tongue and Oral Leukoplakia
Published Jun 1, 1942 · J. Abels, P. E. Rekers, H. Martin
Cancer Research
13
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Influential Citations
Abstract
There is now considerable evidence to show that papillary atrophy of the tongue frequently is the result of a deficient ingestion of vitamin B complex ( i i, I3, 2I). In some instances, it is stated, such glossal lesions can be treated successfully by the administration of nicotinic acid alone or with riboflavin; in others the use of the whole vitamin B complex in a crude form apparently is needed in order to effect restoration of the normal glossal surface. The high incidence with which papillary atrophy of the tongue is noted in this hospital to be associated with leukoplakia of that organ or of other areas of the mouth immediately suggests the possibility that oral leukoplakia likewise is the result of a deficient ingestion or utilization of essential dietary constituents. Numerous suggestions concerning the etiology of oral leukoplakia already have been advanced, with syphilis and the excessive use of tobacco (7) particularly suspect. Yet many patients with the disease neither suffer from syphilis nor use excessive amounts of tobacco, and therefore these factors cannot be considered in themselves to be the cause of the disorder. A need for a better understanding of the cause of both glossal atrophy and oral leukoplakia is especially important because of the possible precancerous nature of these lesions. Cancer frequently is seen in association with leukoplakia, and has been observed to develop in it. During the past year it has been possible to investigate in a large group of patients with glossal papillary