Recurrent aphthous stomatitis and thiamine deficiency

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis recurrent aphthous stomatitis is a disease of unknown cause. To examine whether thiamine (vitamin B₁) deficiency is associated with recurrent aphthous stomatitis, we studied vitamin B₁ levels in 70 patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis and in 50 members of a control group. The vitamin B₁ level was determined as thiamine pyrophosphate effect on transketolase activity in red blood cell lysates. Low levels of vitamin B₁ were detected in 49 patients but in only two members of the control group (p < 0.0001). These low levels were not associated with patient age, sex, or underlying disease causing recurrent aphthous stomatitis. Our finding suggests an association between thiamine deficiency and recurrent aphthous stomatitis.